How COVID-19 is affecting NHL teams and the 2022 Winter Olympics

Entering the 2021-22 NHL season, the vaccination rate among players against COVID-19 was close to 100%.

And now, nearly two months into the season, there is only one unvaccinated player — the Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi, who went on the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list. He said after his return that he isn't changing his mind about getting the vaccine.

The pandemic has not wreaked havoc on the schedule, with a little more than a handful of postponements and rearrangements.

But players continue to test positive for the coronavirus, as dozens across the league have landed on the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list.

And with one player already opting out of the 2022 Winter Olympics over COVID-19 concerns, the pandemic's effect on the sport isn't going away anytime soon.

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Here is what we know about the NHL's battle against the disease.

Enhanced protocols

The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced enhanced protocols on Dec. 18 as COVID-19 cases soared around the league. The rules include mask wearing inside team facilities and during travel, a prohibition on players dining at indoor restaurants while on the road, locker room access limited to players and club traveling personnel, daily testing and team meetings being held virtually.

On Sunday, the league and union announced the season would continue, despite the rising cases.

"There have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness," their joint statement said.

Cross-border NHL games postponed

Prior to the holiday break, 10 games between U.S.-based teams and Canadian squads will from Dec. 20-Dec. 23 have been postponed. By Christmas Eve, there will have been at least 39 games postponed this season.

NHL players decision on Beijing Olympics expected soon

The NHL players expect to announce its participation (or lack thereof) in the Winter Olympics sometime "in the coming days." They are actively discussing the matter.

Holiday parties canceled

The league issued a memorandum on Nov. 29 encouraging all 32 teams to cancel upcoming club-organized holiday parties and to refrain from participating in public autograph sessions, charity events and speaking engagements.

"Players and staff are reminded to limit the amount of exposure they have to large groups over the holidays, including large family gatherings, in order to reduce the risk of introducing infection into their team," the letter read.

The league said its analysis of the outbreaks on multiple teams have not been from a single source.

"They have been through multiple sources, via community spread, at the same time -- often with subsequent transmission through the team," the NHL said.

20 games have been postponed

The first time a major sports league in North America postponed games due to a coronavirus outbreak this fall was when the NHL rescheduled three Ottawa Senators games on Nov. 15. Nearly 40% of the team wound up on the league's COVID-19 list, despite having a 100% vaccination rate.

Less than two weeks later, the New York Islanders saw a gradual increase of players land in protocol and had two games pushed back, and the team struggled with their reinforcements from the American Hockey League.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken -- before the organization even debuted -- and the Washington Capitals experienced clusters of cases without having to miss games, but the league shut down the Calgary Flames because of a rise in cases.

On Dec. 17, the NHL postponed Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche games through the Christmas break. It also extended the Flames' postponements through the break and postponed a Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens game.

Canadian teams are limiting capacity to 50 percent. A Canadiens game was played without fans in the stands.

NHL 2021-22 COVID-19 guidelines

The NHL published a 27-page memo detailing the COVID-19 protocol for the upcoming season on Sept. 2. In it, the league recommended all personnel become fully vaccinated, as the new rules were adopted in recognition of the widespread availability of the vaccine.

In general, COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, but they’re not 100% effective in preventing sickness. Vaccinated people who have breakthrough infections are much less likely to get severely sick or die. That means a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated can still contract COVID-19 if exposed to the virus that causes it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The league suspended the Sharks' Evander Kane for 21 games for allegedly using a fake vaccination card. Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will has said Kane is now fully vaccinated. The Sharks waived him and Kane reported to the team's AHL affiliate.

How often are players tested?

Players are still missing games because even vaccinated ones must test every 72 hours (for unvaccinated individuals, testing is done every day).

Restrictions regarding social gatherings and facial coverings were also much stricter for unvaccinated players compared to vaccinated ones.

Update: The enhanced protocols require daily testing.

What about booster shots?

A third (or for those who initially received a Johnson & Johnson dose, a second) shot known as a "booster" shot has been recommended by the CDC -- six months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after their initial J&J vaccine.

The league was not tracking booster shots in its original count of determining vaccinated players.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger on Nov. 24, "NHL sent a Covid19 letter to all clubs acknowledging vaccination booster shots remain a players choice. ... Booster is personal choice unless government restrictions change."

NHL games in Canada

Unvaccinated players will no longer be able to play in Canada as of Jan.15, per new federal guidelines from the country. Bertuzzistayed home from three early season games in Canada. Previous restrictions required a 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated players.

How will coronavirus pandemic affect NHL players at the Beijing Olympics?

NHL players are returning to the Olympics this season after not attending the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

The NHL schedule has a three-week hiatus (Feb. 3 through Feb. 22) built into it so players can participate for their countries in the 2022 Winter Games. The flurry of game postponements involving multiple teams would make the rescheduling process difficult, given the lack of available dates on the other side of the break.

The NHL can back out from sending its players to the Games by Jan. 10 without incurring a financial penalty.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he would leave the decision up to the players.

Players will have to test negative twice at least 24 hours apart before arriving in Beijing in early February; one of those tests must take place within 72 hours of departure.

Athletes will be tested daily, and any who violate rules could face punishments that include exclusion from events.

But as Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner alluded to, players will essentially be in a bubble during the Olympics. Athletes who test positive will be temporarily removed from competition. For those who are symptomatic, time spent in isolation at the hospital will be determined by Chinese health authorities, while asymptomatic athletes can be let go after two consecutive negative COVID-19 tests.

Lehner, from Sweden, is opting out of the Olympics because he does not want to take that risk. Will others?

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca. Contributing: Mike Brehm

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL and COVID-19: What we know 2 months before Beijing Winter Olympics