Positive COVID-19 cases detected amongst broadcasters at World Women's Championship postpones Sunday morning session

After a series of scheduled testing, a number of positive COVID-19 cases have been detected amongst the competition broadcast staff at the World Women’s Curling Championship 2021, taking place in Calgary, Canada.

No athletes or competition officials are considered at risk at this time.

The entire competition broadcast staff have now been isolated in their hotel while additional testing and contact tracing takes place. The broadcast staff are situated in a different hotel from the athletes and competition officials in order to ensure the integrity of the competition bubble.

Athletes and competition officials received scheduled PCR testing on Saturday (1 May). While awaiting the results from those tests, it has been determined that in an abundance of caution, and to also allow enough time for the venue to receive a deep clean, the Sunday morning session, scheduled for 09:00 Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), would be postponed.

After updated guidance is received on the situation from Alberta Health and once all athlete and competition official test results have been returned and are confirmed as negative, the competition will resume with the afternoon session at 14:00. The morning’s postponed session will be played at a time to be determined later in the week.

While the impacted staff remain in isolation during the expanded testing and contact tracing, broadcasting will be on hold until they are medically cleared to return by the competition medical officials and Alberta Health.

The World Curling Federation and Curling Canada have robust health and safety protocols in place under the guidance of the federal, provincial and local public health officials that will continue to be followed during this championship. The health and safety of our athletes, officials, staff and the community at large are always our primary concern and will continue to be so as we address this latest challenge.

With respect for the privacy of the impacted individuals, no additional information will be shared at this time.

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