Report: Lightning Close Facilities After 3 Players Test Positive for COVID-19

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reportedly closed their team facilities because of multiple positive COVID-19 tests. 

Per TSN's Bob McKenzie, it's believed that three Lightning players and two staff members tested positive and that the "remaining players and staff are being tested." Sources confirmed to Joe Smith of The Athletic that three Tampa players tested positive for the coronavirus.

McKenzie noted the expectation is that the Lightning will reopen their facilities if there aren't any more positive tests. 

Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan began June 8, which allowed teams to open their facilities so players could take part in voluntary individual workouts. The plan limited the number of participants in a facility to six players and one staff member.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced in May that the league was planning a 24-team playoff format with two host cities to finish the 2019-20 season. Formal training camps (Phase 3) are scheduled to begin July 10. 

Phase 4 will be the start of the postseason, but no official return date has been announced yet.

Florida has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases recently as more businesses have started to reopen. The state announced on Friday a single-day record of 3,822 confirmed new cases.