Men's curling worlds playoffs resume after COVID-19 scare - CBC.ca

The men's world curling championship playoffs were given the green light to resume Sunday in Calgary after a suspension of games due to COVID-19.

Alberta Health approved the resumption of games, the World Curling Federation said in a statement.

• Watch and engage with CBC Sports' That Curling Show live (Sunday 5 p.m. ET) featuring the men's curling championship on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Four participants, including three from non-playoff teams, tested positive for the virus, but did not show symptoms of the illness.

An unidentified athlete from a playoff team who tested positive, and then negative in a subsequent test, was initially barred from competing, but the WCF reversed course and allowed him on the ice Sunday.

World Curling Federation at 11:05am ET in an email said curler in question would not be allowed to play. <br><br>Two hours later, after "extensive" consultation with AHS, the curler is playing. And we learn has been previously vaccinated.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbccurl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbccurl</a>

&mdash;@Devin_Heroux

"After extensive consultation with Alberta Health the athlete who tested positive, then negative has been granted permission to play in the playoffs today," the WCF said in a statement. "The athlete in question has been fully vaccinated.

"New medical guidelines have been implemented for the closing day. Players will remain masked when competing and PCR throat-swab tests will take place before and after each game."

The United States and Switzerland got on the ice Sunday morning with all players wearing masks.

WATCH | Dr. Isaac Bogoch discusses the situation in Calgary curling bubble:

The infectious disease expert explains how the curling action in Calgary could continue despite positive tests. 4:14

Adding to the confusion, domestic host broadcaster TSN said it will not carry the game "due to COVID-19 issues" although the game was shown on WCF streaming services.

Saturday's playoff game and a pair of semifinals were postponed while more testing was conducted.

Athletes, coaches and event officials considered close contacts with the infected athletes tested negative, according to the WCF.

Sweden, Russia and Scotland and the playoff winner between the Americans and the Swiss were to play in Sunday afternoon's semifinals.

Gold and bronze-medal games were scheduled for the same draw in the evening.

The men's world championship is the fourth Curling Canada event held in a controlled environment without spectators following the national men's, women's and mixed doubles championship.

No positive tests were reported in Canada's domestic events at WinSport's Markin MacPhail Centre.

WATCH | Scotland upends Canada in qualification game:

Canada's Brendan Bottcher loses to Scotland's Bruce Mouat 5-3 in the qualification game at the men's world curling championship. 1:04

World championship curlers underwent "exit" tests last week in preparation to leave Calgary's curing bubble.

Shortly after Canada's Brendan Bottcher was eliminated from world championship contention Friday night, the WCF suspended competition because of three positive tests involving non-playoff teams.

A member of the Canadian team confirmed to CBC Sports that their team tested negative for COVID-19.

A fourth positive test involving a playoff-team athlete wasn't received until Saturday morning, the WCF said. That player subsequently tested negative for the virus in the retesting round.

WATCH | Where Canada fits in the current curling climate:

The two-time world champion explains how the rest of the world has caught up to Canadian curling. 3:20

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2021-04-11 17:42:59Z
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