Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons decided to go the anti-vax route, declining to take the Covid vaccine offered to all team personnel last week. Now four other members of the organization have tested positive, resulting in the postponement of two games in Anaheim and at least one scheduled game in Oakland on Monday. "I have received some questions regarding the vaccine", Simmons said in a social media post last month. "For personal reasons and past experience I will not be taking it or advocating for it."
The organization has downplayed the situation and believes there is no overlap between Simmons diagnosis from earlier in the week and the current cases. According to a Twins staffer, the outbreak stems from a variant found in the positive tests. It has not been a good week on or off the field for the team, losing several games due to a struggling bullpen and managerial decisions by Rocco Baldelli. The Twins also postponed a home game in the aftermath of the shooting death of Daunte Wright at the hands of a police officer.
As collegiate and professional sports attempts to regain normalcy, Covid continues to have an affect in both the United States and Canada. The NHL's Colorado Avalanche postponed three upcoming games while Vancouver Canucks are scheduled to resume play Sunday after an outbreak that affected virtually all players and staff. The Western Illinois baseball program also cancelled a weekend series due to protocols involving Tier 1 personnel.