Public health officials in multiple northeastern U.S. states are investigating the possible spread of the coronavirus among youth hockey players.
The New York State Amateur Hockey Association said last week that some of its players tested positive for the virus after attending a skills clinic in New Hampshire and playing in a tournament in Connecticut. Some players are "very sick," the association said, and have passed the virus to family members.
While ice hockey competitions are allowed in Connecticut and New Hampshire, they are prohibited in New York and Massachusetts. In a letter distributed last week, the New York association criticized "overzealous coaches and parents" for traveling across state lines.
"Participating in out-of-state tournaments, with players from other states, is not a very smart decision," it wrote. "These reckless actions resulting in sick players and others will not help our cause at all."
Chet Murch, general manager of The Rinks at Exeter in New Hampshire, told the Boston Globe that at least a dozen players from New York tested positive after the July 31-Aug. 2 tournament in Connecticut, as did a Massachusetts teenager who competed with a New York team and later attended the New Hampshire clinic.
He said his facility has followed all safety protocols, but the New Hampshire attorney general's office said it is reviewing complaints.
"Any breach of public health guidance that puts individuals at risk will not be tolerated. End of story," Gov. Chris Sununu told WMUR-TV.
Connecticut public health officials did not respond to the Globe's requests for comment, but the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it is working with other New England states to coordinate contact tracing.
Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease specialist at Tufts Medical Center, said coaches and athletes may consider infection rates in neighboring states low enough to participate in contact sports, but there is inherent danger.
The teenager "cheated the system by leaving the state and, lo and behold, there was a risk associated with close contact sports," she said.
In other coronavirus developments:
___
MAINE
More than two dozen people tested positive for the coronavirus and another person died, the Maine Center for Disease Control reported Saturday
The number of deaths increased to 127 while the number of people who've tested positive has topped 4,100.
The true number of cases is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
___
VERMONT
The Vermont Tax Department has launched a grant program to help local governments get reimbursed for expenses during the pandemic.
The Vermont Legislature appropriated $13 million to reimburse local governments for COVID-19 expenses such as hazard pay, supplies and equipment, sanitation, and facilities alterations not already covered by insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Agency of Administration, through the Vermont Department of Taxes, will distribute the funds.
"Many of Vermont's cities and towns have experienced unexpected costs this year from the COVID-19 pandemic," Secretary of Administration Susanne Young said in a statement. "Local officials have taken, and continue to take, a number of steps to keep us all safe and healthy.
The deadline for applying is Sept. 4.
The Vermont Health Department reported eight more people testing positive for the virus, bringing the total to 1,509. The number of deaths remained at 58.
