Dr. Bonnie Henry has opened the door to allow NHL hockey in Vancouver this summer

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has agreed to a modified COVID-19 quarantine plan so Vancouver can be used as an NHL hub city this summer.

She will allow hockey teams to be defined as a “family entity” or bubble so that teams can travel together, stay in the same hotel and drive in the same vehicle to the arena, Premier John Horgan announced today.

They will not be able to interact with members of the public during the 14-day quarantine period that is required of all travellers coming from outside Canada.

Anyone arriving from outside Canada has to have a plan to self-isolate for 14 days. Usually that's at home but, if people don't have an acceptable plan, they will be put up in hotels. The difference with the hockey teams is that they are not small family groups, as most travellers are, and they will be allowed to leave their hotels in order to go to the arena.

Horgan has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pursue the plan with the NHL.

The NHL is planning to restart hockey in two hub cities, one for the Eastern Conference and one for the Western but has yet to name which cities. Vancouver could be an ideal place to resume considering it has outperformed many other provinces in how it has dealt with the COVID-19. 

Horgan also said that his government has passed an order that minor sport organizations and volunteers will be protected from liability due to COVID-19. This will allow sports leagues to resume play because some insurance companies would not provide insurance to them.

Horgan, during is weekly press briefing, said travel within B.C. will likely open soon and that the province's state of emergency will be extended at least until cabinet meets again in two weeks.

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