Women’s worlds to resume after positive COVID tests
CALGARY — The world women’s curling championship has been given clearance to resume in the Calgary bubble after two members of an international team tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend.
Practice sessions were cancelled Wednesday as Alberta Health investigated the positive tests and conducted further testing of all participants.
Thirteen of the 14 teams in the event were permitted to return to practice on Thursday at the Markin Macphail Centre, while the affected team — Team Germany (skipped by Daniela Jentsch) — had to wait to see if they’ll be allowed to continue on in the tournament.
Team Jentsch put out a statement on Twitter, shortly after it was revealed that the positive tests involved members of the German squad.
“We want to apologize to our fellow athletes and everyone else involved with the event for the disruption to their preparations and any worry this situation has caused them,” the statement read.
“We can only hope that you understand that we are devastated this has happened despite all of the care that we took before and during our travel to Calgary.
“We don’t know how this situation occurred or where our player contracted COVID, but we will continue to do everything asked of us by the fantastic medical team here in Calgary in order to safely return to the ice in some capacity.
“It’s our dream to represent Germany at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and when members of the team are cleared to compete, we hope that we will have the chance to earn that opportunity here in Canada.”
The championship is slated to begin today, though there is some schedule leeway as to when the games will start, if changes or delays are necessary.
“After consistent negative results in the expanded testing, and while still asymptomatic, the remaining team members of the impacted team will be given approval to return to sport at the conclusion of further testing, including testing for variants of concern,” the World Curling Federation said in a statement.
“We continue to work with public health authorities and a further determination of the remaining team members ability and timeline for the return to sport is yet to be finalized. The impact of this return to sport timeline on the competition schedule will be determined once more information is known.
“The individuals who returned positive cases will remain in isolation until medically cleared by the Chief Medical Officer with guidance from Alberta Health.”
It’s possible the tournament could be played with 13 teams.
Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson, who missed out on a chance to play at the worlds last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Wednesday’s news was encouraging.
“It’s great news to hear that we’re moving forward,” Einarson said. “My only concern that I have is I hope that they’re doing well. It’s not something you want to have happen when you come over here after a long trip, that’s for sure. I just hope those affected players are feeling OK.”
Canada is slated to open the world championship this afternoon against Sweden’s entry skipped by Anna Hasselborg.