Any CoVID Spread Traceable to Ice Rinks?

[tstop4me]

Hi.  I'd appreciate feedback from members whose rinks have re-opened for at least a month.  Have any of you had any reports of a COVID spread traceable to activities at your rink (hockey, freestyle, public, LTS ....)?  I'm in NJ.  Rinks re-opened early July, but very cautiously and on a very limited basis (NY/NJ were the hardest hit region in Mar - May).  Primarily freestyle, hockey practice (no games), and private rentals.  I normally skate weekday morn public sessions (typically not crowded).  So far I haven't gone to freestyle; not so much because of the high cost, but because of the extra caution needed around high-level skaters doing jumping passes and program runs.  But one rink near me has just started adult-only public sessions.  Rates are really reasonable under current circumstances ($10 for a 1.5 hr session); limit of 25 20 skaters.  I'm tempted to go.  But first I thought I'd check on any problems that may have cropped up in other parts of the country that re-opened earlier and more aggressively.  Thanks. [A Google search pointed only to problems associated with youth hockey games.]

[FigureSpins]

Dallas had a sad incident with a hockey team: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/31-cases-covid-19-coachs-death-tied-multiple-youth-hockey-teams-dallas-fort-worth/287-69348841-6568-48ed-b527-33ba909a2f36

One rink in our area that focuses on hockey had one employee test positive earlier this week.  Not sure what their plans are other than to take the other staff on his latest shift off the schedule.

Other than that, we haven't heard of ANY cases associated with figure skating sessions.  The rules say that the skaters don't have to wear a mask while skating, but the coaches and everyone else does, full-time.
Our public sessions only started this week, so it's too soon to say if that will be an issue.  However, masks are required all the time on the public sessions.

[FigureSpins]

As an aside, I worked out earlier this week at the gym near our rink.  I wore my mask and used my own sanitizer, although I did use the facility-provided sanitizing solution and paper towels on the elliptical and weights.  About half the people were wearing masks while exercising, although most of them put their masks on to move from station to station.  I staked out a space and hauled equipment over to it, then sanitized before/after using the equipment.  They had no resistance bands or ropes available.  Used my own band from home.

It wasn't bad to wear a mask while exercising - I could breath fine and it was well-fitted.  (Custom-made by me!)  The Russian Twists were difficult, but they're just as difficult without a mask, so no big deal.

[mapleleafmama]

We haven't had any cases here that I've heard of (there are several rinks so I'm only certain about the ones I skate at but I imagine I would have heard about something in one of the others).

One of my training buddies had it in March + not knowing what it was kept coming to the rink until they all closed. So I—and pretty much everyone I skate with—was exposed back then + as far as I know none of us got it. Makes me feel somewhat safer that regular skating activities plus the extra precautions the rinks are requiring are probably pretty good at keeping us safe.

[AgnesNitt]

This week the rink I skate at changed from 'you don't have to wear a mask on ice' to 'you have to wear a mask everywhere'. Last week you only had to wear a mask in the lobby and booting up area (unless you played hockey, then you were 'special' (masking not enforced) )

Actually up till this week most people wore a mask on the rink anyway. Now everyone wears it everywhere, even hockey.

[FigureSpins]

Our rink allowed figure skaters and hockey players to skate without masks, but they had to be worn at all other times.  During public sessions, everyone had to wear a mask, even on the ice. All coaches, spectators and staff had to wear a mask at all times inside the facility.  Some of the fitness classes are being conducted outside and they're social distancing while wearing masks, too.

About a week ago, one of the other coaches reached out and asked about skaters wearing masks during freestyle.  I asked my parents to do it - we have some coaches and skaters who are at risk - and 95% immediately started to wear their masks while skating.  No complaints or anything because we all want the same thing: to keep people healthy and prevent the rinks from being shut down.

The NC Governor announced yesterday that masks had to be worn indoors while exercising at gyms and "organized sports activities."  They issued an FAQ document that made it very clear that the loopholes were closed.  The rink asked all coaches to relay the "mask on!" message and all the figure skaters were compliant today during the freestyles.

As far as I know, our ice facility hasn't had any issues with COVID cases.  Anyone who was exposed stayed away until they had a negative test.  I think we have in-house hockey now, so that might explain why other rinks have had clusters tied to travel hockey, but we haven't.  (Just a guess)

I'm not sure about the other sports in our facility - we have swimming, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, martial arts and fitness classes, but I haven't heard of any outbreaks.

*crosses fingers*

[dlbritton]

The NC Governor announced yesterday that masks had to be worn indoors while exercising at gyms and "organized sports activities."  They issued an FAQ document that made it very clear that the loopholes were closed.  The rink asked all coaches to relay the "mask on!" message and all the figure skaters were compliant today during the freestyles.

As far as I know, our ice facility hasn't had any issues with COVID cases.  Anyone who was exposed stayed away until they had a negative test.  I think we have in-house hockey now, so that might explain why other rinks have had clusters tied to travel hockey, but we haven't.  (Just a guess)

Our skate director sent out a blast email today about masks while on ice starting at 5PM tomorrow. I am skating at 11AM and will wear my mask. I have been taking it off just before stepping on the ice, but the adult 11AM session only has 2-4 ppl on a typical day.
I have several different masks and will experiment to find the best one. For working out at the Y I found the paper disposable were the best but they were definitely 1 use. After 45 minutes it was soaked.

Swimming laps I take it off just before I get in the water and put it on after toweling off my hair/beard when I get out.

I haven't heard of any outbreaks at my rink. One staff member was exposed away from the rink and had to quarantine for 14 days plus get tested.

Update: Tried to skate with my mask on but my glasses kept fogging up so I had to forgo the mask.  Luckily there were only 4 skaters and 1 coach so I never got close to another skater.  I have to find a solution before the next time I skate.

[Christy]

It's interesting to see the different approaches and requirements. We've had a few closures and have always been required to wear masks, plus sometimes put skates on in the parking lot. Some rinks have allowed dressing rooms to open but with very low occupancy and limited times. Unsurprisingly given some of the hockey players I've kept a substantial distance from, I've heard of a couple of cases related to hockey.
I was surprised to read about the UK where it seems like ice skating is considered entertainment, not sport 

[dlbritton]

Skated my first full 1 hour adult session wearing a mask on the ice. I used a disposable mask which was saturated with sweat and "breath moisture" at the end of the session. Less fogging this time but some so I rubbed a little foaming soap on and wiped them clean. That stopped the fogging and didn't obscure my vision at all. The mask didn't affect my breathing at all.

There were only 2 other adults on the ice, one coach and her student.

[Christy]

Adult old timers felt it was important to continue their travel for their beer league, now ALL adult sports cancelled  :'(
https://globalnews.ca/news/7498626/bc-hockey-team-alberta-covid-cluster/

[FigureSpins]

Use a strip of medical tape to seal the top of the mask to your skin. It's an old operating room trick that works. Just be sure to get a good seal and peel it off gently.

I went to the Opthalmologist last month and noticed his taped bridge.  Smarties, all of you!

Beer league is right - man, can those old timers drink!  They used to hang out behind our rink and the ground looked like mosaic tile with all the bottle caps embedded in the dirt.  (Pre-COVID, of course.)

We've had a few tertiary contact cases but so far, so good. 

A small gym in Raleigh that does Boot Camp classes closed yesterday after 40 members tested positive for COVID-19.  The news report said one person tested positive, notified the owners, who reached out to their members and, next thing you know, it's a cluster.  Owners are going to close for the rest of the year.  I feel sorry for the owners/staff/instructors.

We've been paying for Planet Fitness, but not actually using the membership.  Just want to keep them open since it's a good business to have in a shopping plaza.  We'll go back eventually, but in the meantime, I do their online live workouts instead.  Better safe than sorry.

[dlbritton]

We've been paying for Planet Fitness, but not actually using the membership.  Just want to keep them open since it's a good business to have in a shopping plaza.  We'll go back eventually, but in the meantime, I do their online live workouts instead.  Better safe than sorry.

I can go to Planet Fitness with my Medicare Advantage plan or the Y but once they opened up the fitness enter where reservations were no longer required I decided to just stick with swimming laps. I assume PF is similar to the Y.

Went skiing at Sugar Mtn, NC on Wed and I found swimming and skating use different muscles than skiing. I usually do stair-masters or elliptical machines off season.

I anticipate some ski resorts are going to be breeding grounds for clusters. Very poor lift line management at Sugar, no corral so people were cutting in from the sides. People started bunching real close to prevent people from cutting in, so no social distancing. Ski patrol would periodically spread out the line but it quickly went back to a crowded mass. I only made a few runs when it got to that point and left early. You could ride alone but with the lines I decided it was safe to share with another single skier on a 6 person chair. We could sit at opposite ends and be at least 6 feet apart and moving at 7 mph. Masks are required in the lift line and on the lift chairs, although enforcement on the chairs is obviously impossible.

Wintergreen, VA is only offering private/semi-private (up to 5 ppl travelling together) lessons booked in advance. No groups of strangers taking lessons together. Wintergreen has very good corral systems for lift lines so spacing should be okay. 

[Loops]

This was in the Washington Post this morning/last night:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/04/hockey-covid-transmission-outbreaks/

The article might be behind a paywall.  If it is, let me know, and I'll try to do a cut and paste job.  It's interesting and relevant to us.

Looks like Hockey is a vector, and it's likely that if FS sessions follow hockey, there could be high risks of exposure.  Ice rinks are suspected incubators for Covid, because of a combination of temperature, humidity and ventilation.....

My local rink has been shut down for a month (and struggling to the point that they de-iced!).  Locker rooms have been inaccessible for everyone (incl Hockey, although perhaps not the Professional team) since the season started in August.  Even the goalies haven't been allowed to access locker rooms.  We're hoping to re-open for minors on the 19th (pending an announcement from Macron the 15th, which will determine if they can start re-laying the ice....the slab will have been cooled), but adults have to wait until the 20th of Jan to see if we can start up again.  Safe to say our season is shot.

But we've had no outbreaks linked to our rink.  France is taking control of the situation differently than the US is though.

[tstop4me]

In NJ, multiple outbreaks primarily linked to hockey has led to a "pause" on "indoor sports practices and competitions, including group, competitive and/or organized sporting activities for youth and adults" from today through Jan 2 (https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20201201a.shtml).  Rink directors are sorting out whether figure skating is also banned.  Earlier in the year, Executive Orders addressed specific facilities.  But the latest one addresses specific activities.  In particular, "private fitness classes, lessons, and trainings at gyms, studios and similar locations are permitted to continue".

Regardless of what the Governor rules, it's not clear whether it will be economically feasible for rinks to stay open.  I did feel reasonably OK skating at adult public sessions at one rink initially, but conditions rapidly degraded after the Governor removed all restrictions on indoor sports, including competitive hockey, in mid Oct.  NJ was hit hard with the virus in the spring, brought it under control through the summer and early fall, but is burning red again.

[FigureSpins]

Great articles - thanks for sharing.

I wonder if equipment also makes a difference?  Most of the hockey players stuff everything into a bag and don't air it out or sanitize.  (Hence, the stench)  If that equipment is dirty, pulling it out near others/in the locker room exposes everyone in the room.  Most of the younger kids in our in-house league arrive already-dressed, but a lot of the middle/high school kids dress inside the rink. 

The USFSA and USA Hockey really need to step up and talk about equipment.  In the last month or so, the synchro and figure skaters have gone back to "business as usual," which means sitting next to each other talking, then leaving their bags and shoes inside the rink on the benches or in the lobby where a few chairs and tables are available.  It makes distancing difficult and it's territorial: they're saving a spot to change later.

NC has all rinks open and the hospitalizations are rising.  Unless people take this seriously, the hockey programs will be shut down and synchro will be next, assuming the rinks themselves aren't required to shutter.  Our rink is trying to keep the lights on by hosting a video-streamed Nutcracker on Ice with mostly solo numbers, but hopefully, the doors will stay open to do the performance.  It would be really sad to lose that.

One last note about hockey: CCM was selling clear face guards to replace the cages on helmets.  I saw a few hockey players with them and thought they were better for preventing spread as well.  One of the pro shops posted that CCM was sold out and a parent said that the largest rink/hockey program wasn't allowing them in lieu of a "real" mask anymore.  Wasn't as effective at stopping transmission.  (Agnes: I agree that the gaiters are really useless, especially since they fall down most of the time, letting nose/mouth hang out.)