The International Olympic Committee is pushing back against the possibility of a norovirus outbreak at Milano Cortina 2026.
Finland is scheduled to face the United States in women's hockey Saturday (10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT, CBC Gem, Sportsnet+) after the Finns' game against Canada on Thursday was postponed to Feb. 12. Thirteen Finnish players either had norovirus or were exposed before the postponement.
Fourteen players took part in Finland's practice Friday.
The Swiss women's hockey team then skipped Friday's opening ceremony and was isolating after one positive test result. Switzerland is scheduled to face Canada on Saturday (3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT, CBC Gem, Sportsnet+).
Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said he is confident the situation is being handled properly.
"(There is) one case with the Swiss team — but let's be very clear, no outbreak ... What was done by the medical teams (was) super precise and super nicely done," he said at a press conference.
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IOC spokesman Mark Adams said he spoke to IOC medical director Jane Thornton and added: "There is absolutely no reason to suspect these cases (involving Finland and Switzerland) are related. In other words, it's not an outbreak."
While there are no such restrictions in the Milan Cortina Games, the spectre of illness throwing a wrench into an athlete's plans still exists when thousands of people congregate in one place.
"The biggest thing was just being super-diligent in the common spaces in the village," said Canadian women's team forward Blayre Turnbull on Saturday afternoon.
"In the dining hall specifically, there's some items that are shared with all in the nations. Normally, you take your tray and the staff there serve your food, but there's condiments like salad dressings and stuff like that that are communal.
"We've been washing our hands with soap and water like mad. More handwashing than I've ever done in my life for sure.
"People can wear masks if they choose to, medical gloves to touch the dressing bottles and whatnot. Otherwise, we're just trying to stick with our group and making sure that we're keeping our distance from other teams."
Canada's short-track speedskaters were also on their guard about a stomach bug that could derail what is predicted to be a medal haul in that sport.
"It's more in public spaces, to keep our masks on, in the shuttles or transit," Kim Boutin said. "It was planned like that at first, but I think we have to be more vigilant now."
--With files from the Canadian Press.
