CFL health and safety committee working on list of potential loosened restrictions to present to government next week

| American Football | 07/23/2021

With the CFL season opener just two weeks away, the league is ironing out the details on a proposal to the government that could see COVID restrictions rolled back for all nine teams, according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

The CFL health & safety committee is still working on a list of priorities to present to the government (next week) on the possible loosening of restrictions. Some want more personal freedoms for double vaxed players, others want more freedom to operate within a team setting.

The variant is a part of the discussion as neither side wants to risk an outbreak, so there is still caution in this process. The reduction of testing does not appear to be a focus. Mid-August is still the hoped target for any potential changes.

The CFL and CFLPA have been engaged in those discussions since players arrived in Canada for training camp. A number of players who have decided to retire or not play in 2021 have cited the current restrictions as a factor in their decision.

Claire Hanna of CTV Regina reported earlier this month that players and coaches will not be permitted to socialize with anyone outside of their household until August 15 at the earliest. On road trips, players will not be allowed to visit restaurants or bars and will be permitted only to travel on team-arranged transportation.

The CFL does not currently have any requirements for players to be vaccinated with some reports indicating that fewer than 50 percent of players across the league have received their shot(s).

A full list of the restrictions currently facing players and coaches was obtained by 3DownNation and can be found here.

3DownNation is a website dedicated to covering the CFL and Canadian football. Founded in 2015 by veteran CFL writer Drew Edwards while reporting for the Hamilton Spectator and initially the property of the Torstar corporation, ownership of the