[ad_1]
OTTAWA – The return of the Toronto Blue Jays to their baseball stadium “goes in a very good direction,” Canada’s deputy chief public health officer said Thursday.
The Blue Jays have played their home games this season in Dunedin, Fla. And Buffalo, NY as the Canada-U.S. Border remains closed to non-essential travel. Toronto also played all of its home games in Buffalo last season.
Major League Baseball needs an exemption for games to be played in Canada because not all players and team staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The team requested an exemption and health official Dr Howard Njoo said there had been “a lot of good talk” between the Blue Jays and the government about the request.
But Njoo, speaking at a virtual press conference, did not say when an announcement would be made about the Blue Jays’ return to Rogers Center.
“We are looking at, I would say, the final details,” Njoo said. “But at this point, I would say there are no barriers or anything that we really can’t keep discussing and moving forward.
“So I can’t give you a date as to when a possible decision would be made for the NIE or the national interest exemption, but I would say that in terms of discussions from a public health point of view , they are doing very well. “
A spokesperson for the team said the club are continuing to work with the federal government towards a July 30 comeback. The Blue Jays open a three-game series against Kansas City on this date. The site is listed as “TBD” on the Major League Baseball website.
If the Blue Jays do not receive a 10-game homestand exemption on July 30, the next homestand will begin on August 20.
[ad_2]
Source link