KHL club Avangard Omsk records 20 positive COVID-19 tests

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A Russian team playing in the Kontinental Hockey League has withdrawn from a pre-season tournament after 20 people from the club tested positive for the coronavirus.

Avangard Omsk general manager Alexei Volkov says the positive tests come from players and members of team staff who were tested during training camp. Volkov adds that the people are in isolation and that most don’t have obvious symptoms.

Avangard was scheduled to play in a pre-season tournament from Aug. 4-9 in Sochi.

The last KHL season was cut short midway through the playoffs when the coronavirus pandemic made international travel difficult.

The KHL is aiming to start the new season on Sept. 2 and expects to finalize the calendar after a board meeting scheduled for next week.

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