Knierim/Frazier looked great and healthy at the practices on Tuesday. Some people expect the skaters to run and get a test every time they cough or feel a minor cold coming on, but realistically they can't do that. The skaters were only supposed to be tested 4 days after arrival, but Brandon went to go tested faster than that because of his symptoms.
No, it's very normal and expected for skaters to not practice with masks on. I don't think everyone realizes how physically demanding and potentially dangerous pair skating is until you try it (or a sport equally as difficult). The skaters are required to wear masks everywhere else.
I apologize; it seems you totally misunderstood my post. I was never blaming the skaters for anything, although someone desperately needs to teach them all how to wear properly fitted masks. I simply said that Brandon didn't wear a mask because he didn't want to wear one -- obviously that would be because it's more uncomfortable & difficult to skate with a mask on.
Skaters are naturally socially distanced from each other on the ice--- the odds of catching it from a skater on the other side of the ice rink are next to none. There was only 1 other pair in K/F's practice group because the other 2 pairs had already withdrawn, and they weren't near each other. Considering how quickly Brandon tested positive after that practice, chances are he was exposed to it way before ever getting on the ice here.
I never said he caught it in practice. He likely caught in while traveling to Nashville or earlier (incubation period is 3 days on average for Omicron). However, since coronavirus is airborne, the odds of catching if from a skater during a practice are definitely higher than "next to none." Skaters are breathing hard and if infected releasing viral particles into the air where another skater may whizz by just seconds or minutes later.
I don't think anyone is blaming them for catching COVID. I certainly was not. I was blaming the USFS for not educating and protecting their skaters.Do we blame people when they catch a cold? No. It's really out of the skaters' control and I feel very sorry for them that they have to be in constant fear of testing positive no matter how many precautions they take.
There is nothing the skaters can do to fully avoid it. It would have cost them days of missed training to drive from SoCal to Nashville instead of taking a plane. And since when do hotel room windows open?
That's right, there's nothing they can do to fully avoid it, but USFS could have helped them mitigate the risks much, much better.
They were using N95 masks and taking a ton of precautions, but you still come into contact with a lot of strangers on any trip, it's unavoidable. It's like a cold-- if it were that easy to stop it, nobody would be catching one.
As I mentioned above, N95s are worthless if not worn and fitted properly. Many skaters are walking around with masks that are way too big for their faces with huge gaps, rendering them useless (see Jessica Calalang, for example). USFS needs to help them find a better fitting mask with a tight seal around the nose STAT.