On Saturday, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported that NH ice arenas will reopen on October 30 with the requirement that hockey organizations test their volunteers, coaches, staff, referees and athletes by November 6.
According to the article, “Rink staff, volunteers, coaches, staff, referees and athletes must all show they were tested for COVID-19 at least once between Oct. 15 and Nov. 6. The test can be either a normal PCR test or a rapid-result antigen test. The only exception for the testing requirement is for people who tested positive for COVID-19 between July 15 and Oct. 15.”
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu reportedly ordered the simultaneous reopening and testing over objections by both sides to certain dimensions of proposals to reopen. The Division of Public Health apparently wanted all participants tested before any ice arenas reopened. The Governor’s Economic Recovery Taskforce wanted the rinks reopened as soon as possible without any mandated COVID-19 tests.
Other rules imposed on ice arenas and hockey programs remain largely similar to before the lockdown.