Three more Elks players test positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 12

EDMONTON – Three more Edmonton Elks players have tested positive for COVID-19, the CFL club announced Wednesday.

Twelve players have now returned positive tests since the team got back to to Edmonton following its 21-16 win over the B.C. Lions last Thursday in Vancouver.

The Elks have not identified any of the affected players.

The team says players, coaches and staff remain in isolation at home, and continue to be tested daily.

The Elks said nine players had tested positive in a media availability Monday, a day after the CFL postponed Thursday night’s game between the Elks and Argonauts in Toronto.

According to CFL protocols, if a game is cancelled due to COVID-19 issues and can’t be rescheduled, the club suffering from the COVID-19 issues will forfeit a 1-0 loss. If both squads have COVID-19 issues, each will forfeit the game and be assigned losses.

In either scenario, if a team can prove at least 85 per cent of its players under contract have been vaccinated, at least once, the players will receive their salary for the cancelled game. If that figure falls below 85 per cent, players won’t be paid.

The Elks have not revealed what percentage of players on the team have been vaccinated. President and chief executive officer Chris Presson has said he is confident the game against Toronto will be rescheduled.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2021.