Argos-Elks CFL game postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak

The Canadian Football League has postponed Thursday’s game between the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks after several players on the Elks team tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement released by the CFL, Elks players, coaches and support staff will now undergo an enhanced testing protocol which includes isolation. The team will not practice or travel until public health officials, as well as the league’s chief medical officers, have confirmed it is safe for them to do so.

Edmonton’s most recent opponent, the B.C. Lions, will also undergo enhanced monitoring protocols this week. At this time, the CFL says, it does not believe the Lions were “exposed to a high risk of infection.”

It’s unclear when the game will be rescheduled.

Prior to the start of the season, the CFL said if a game was cancelled and could not be rescheduled due to COVID-19, then the team responsible for the cancellation would forfeit the game. As well, if 85 per cent of a team’s players under contract have been vaccinated, at least once, then players will be paid for the cancelled game. Otherwise, the entire team will not be paid.

The CFL pushed back the start of its 2021 season by nearly two months and reduced the number of games played this season to 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league cancelled its entire 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus.

The following is the full statement released by the CFL on Sunday night:

Here is the full statement from the CFL released Sunday night:

The Canadian Football League is postponing this Thursday’s game in Toronto between the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks after receiving word earlier today that a number of Elks players have tested positive for COVID-19. This is in keeping with the standard of care for COVID-19 and professional sport. It also reflects our desire to put the health and safety of our players, coaches and staff – as well as public health – above all other considerations.

The Elks will not practice or travel until our Chief Medical Officers and public health officials have assured us it is safe for them to do so. All of the Elks’ Tier One personnel, including players, coaches and support staff will now be subjected to an enhanced testing protocol which includes isolation.

The Elks’ most recent opponent, the BC Lions, will participate in an enhanced protocol and will be monitored closely this week. Upon review with our Chief Medical Officers, we do not believe the Lions were exposed to a high risk of infection. The league is now working to reschedule the game between the Elks and the Argonauts.

We know this is disappointing news for CFL fans, but we are confident they will overwhelmingly support our decision to put safety first.