Screening at Nashville North reveals few positive COVID cases, officials say

Nearly 7,000 people seeking to soak up the sounds at the Stampede's Nashville North on its first weekend have been tested for COVID -19, with only a few proving positive, exhibition officials said Monday.

Also Monday, officials denied social media accusations some attendees at the music venue were skirting COVID -19 screening measures by using fraudulent vaccination documents.

“The vast majority of people are not faking the records. Once in a while we see people do something with whiteout which is pretty easy to catch,” said Dr. Jia Hu, the Calgary Stampede's medical director.

“This has gone really, really well and the vast majority of people are able to enjoy themselves safely.”

Rumours that some people have purchased fraudulent documentation in order to access Nashville North have been proven false by a third-party auditor, said Stampede vice-president Jim Laurendeau.

Of the 22,000 people who have queued up for Nashville North since Thursday, 30 per cent weren't able to produce proof of double immunizations and had to undergo a rapid COVID -19 test.

Of those approximately 6,600 people who were tested, fewer than 0.05 per cent tested positive, said Hu.

The few that have tested positive for the virus have left the grounds for home, though they haven't been escorted off by staff, said Laurendeau.

Those instances haven't provoked any kind of angry backlash, he added.

“Everyone has been so good-natured through this program, very understanding,” he said.

“Those people (who tested positive) did leave Stampede Park to proceed home and did contact Alberta Health Services.”

Nashville North, with a maximum capacity of 3,500, has seen attendance this year equal to pre-pandemic levels.

But Stampede officials said they're optimistic the screening efforts are keeping those crowds safe.

“We feel confident we can run Nashville North with that energized atmosphere due to the measures we're taking,” said Laurendeau.

Hu, who said he has observed the crowds and screening process every day of Stampede, echoed that confidence.

Decked out in a cowboy hat and bandana, Kenzie Harrington on Monday was heading back into Nashville North after showing her vaccine records for the second time since Friday.

“It was crazy busy on Friday . ... It took us an hour to show our vaccination proof,” she said, adding she's in favour of the process.

“I think it's the right thing to do right now, even having the rapid testing.”

Laurendeau said since Thursday they've tweaked the process to improve crowd flow.

“Certainly since sneak-a-peek, we had a few things to iron out and it's been smooth sailing since then,” he said.

There's no doubt other jurisdictions are closely watching the Stampede's handling of COVID -19, said Laurendeau.

“We didn't ask to be first, but here we are,” he said.

Overall Stampede attendance has lived up to organizers' expectations — about half of normal good weather numbers, or about 65,000 per day on the weekend, said Laurendeau.

With fewer midway rides and food vendors, there's a tangible sensation of greater space on the grounds.

Stampede staff and volunteers also wear masks, and hand-sanitizing stations are a common sight around the grounds.

Premier Jason Kenney has highlighted the Stampede in his strategy of reopening the province following more than a year of COVID-19 public health restrictions.

And though the COVID-19 screening at Nashville North is a reminder of lingering concerns over the virus, particularly the highly infectious Delta variant, Kenney sounded jubilant at the annual premier's pancake breakfast in the city's downtown Monday morning.

“Are you glad Alberta is open for summer and that Alberta will be open for good?” Kenney asked to cheers.

“We Albertans can be proud we're putting on the first major event in Canada as we lead Canada out of the pandemic.”

While Nashville North attendees will continue to be screened for the virus, Kenney on Monday said Alberta won't be requiring any kind of vaccination passport.

And while at least one pancake breakfast in northeast Calgary also promoted COVID-19 vaccinations at an adjacent clinic, there are no plans to administer shots on the Stampede grounds, said an Alberta Health Services spokesperson.

But he noted an immunization clinic at the Telus Convention Centre in the downtown core not far away is offering first- and second-dose Moderna shots every day this week.