Editor’s Note: Report was updated at 10:35 a.m. with quotes from Framingham Health Director.
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BOSTON – The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Health Department has ordered all indoor ice rinks to close for two weeks starting today, October 23, after multiple coronavirus cases have been linked back to hockey games and practices.
Colleges and professional sports are exempt from the state order, but Loring Arena in Framingham is included.
This also impacts Chase Arena in Natick and rinks in the City of Marlborough.
“There have been at least 30 clusters of COVID-19 associated with organized ice hockey activities involving residents from more than 60 municipalities in Massachusetts,” said the department.
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A total of 108 confirmed cases are tied to skating rinks, said the Commonwealth.
Rinks can re-open on November 7.
Framingham Health Director Sam Wong told SOURCE Friday, October 23, “Framingham is complying with the Commissioner of Public Health’s Order to suspend all ice skating and hockey activities.”
Wong said, as of Friday morning, “we have 5 known confirmed cases among Framingham residents linked to hockey activities, as part of a cluster associated with a facility outside of Framingham. At this point, we don’t have any known confirmed case associated with Loring Arena.”
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File photo used from before pandemic by Moments Suspended in Time Photography
The A Cappella Singers 
MetroWest Medical Center