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Ice hockey is severely affected by covid-19, while, for example, handball seems less affected.
Anders Tegnell has a theory as to why.
– The virus thrives better, lives better and spreads better in slightly cold and humid environments than when it is hot, says the state epidemiologist.
One infected in Leksand. Two in Skellefteå. Twenty-four in Linköping who stopped the business.
So that’s where SHL’s coverage has been playing in recent weeks. The situation appears to be significantly more serious than in handball and handball, where the reported infection is lower.
Is there a simple explanation?
Photo: PETER HOLGERSSON / BILDBYRÅN
“Humid environments”
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell doesn’t know for sure, but he thinks the variety of teams and arenas comes into play.
– The environment is a little different. Ice hockey rinks are quite cold and humid environments. You guys sit a lot in replacement booths and things like that. You spend a lot of time in the locker room, says Tegnell.
Does the cold come into play?
– Cold plays a role because the virus thrives better, lives better and spreads better in slightly cold and humid environments than when it is hot.
Linköping has stopped operations. Is it reasonable for the team to walk around and play three games a week right now?
– … somewhere, like Linköping, you have to think where the pain line goes, to break the trend. Then you need to take a break to regain control.
“Is very good”
Shouldn’t the whole series be interrupted?
– This debate can take place between SHL and the Swedish Sports Confederation.
As with most times of pandemic, the reasoning can be reversed. Anders Tegnell also sees the high infection rates within hockey clubs as a sign of determined action.
– When you start discovering cases, you try a lot more. This may be one of the reasons why you find a lot in hockey. Is very good. Because then you find the cases and then it is easier to stop the infection effectively, he says.
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