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The morning draw of the world women’s curling championship in Calgary was postponed Sunday after “a number” of positive COVID-19 cases were detected within the broadcast staff.
The broadcast staff, which includes on-air, camera and production people from TSN and World Curling Television, is situated in a different hotel from the curlers and are kept at a distance within the Markin Machail Centre during competition.
The World Curling Federation said no athletes or competition officials are considered at risk at this time.
The entire broadcast staff, which includes TSN commentators Vic Rauter, Cheryl Bernard and Russ Howard and Winnipegger Jill Officer of WCTV is now isolating in its hotel while addition testing and contact tracing takes place.
“I’m fine, not one of the positives,” Officer said from her hotel room.
The WCF said there will be no broadcasts today, though it hoped to resume competition at 4 p.m. ET., after the venue at Canada Olympic Park received a deep clean. The event will only resume if all athletes and competition officials return negative COVID-19 test results.
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The broadcasts crews are made up almost entirely of Canadians and WCTV and TSN share camera feeds.
Sunday’s postponed morning draw will be played at a time to be determined later in the week, assuming the impact of these positive tests is minimal.
All athlete and officials received scheduled PCR testing on Saturday and those results will be available today.
Broadcasting will be on hold until they are medically cleared to return by the competition medical officials and Alberta Health.
This is already the second COVID-19 incident during the world women’s championship. Two members of Team Germany tested positive upon arrival in Calgary last weekend and remain in isolation in the team hotel.
Team Germany was permitted to continue on in the tournament, with three players, including skip Daniela Jentsch.
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During the world men’s championship last month, there were four positive tests among players on the final weekend of competition but all of those were eventually deemed to be false positives.
Alberta has become a major hotspot for COVID-19 and variants of concern. On Saturday alone, the province announced 2,433 new cases.
Canada’s Kerri Einarson was not scheduled to play on the morning draw. Her team is slated to face the United States in its only game of the day on Sunday at 4 ET.
Canada is off of to stunning 1-3 start, having been badly outplayed in the second half of games. Canada has been outscored 16-6 from the sixth end on and 12-1 from the seventh end on through four games.
Twyman@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman
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