A number of COVID-19 cases have been discovered following the B.C. curling championships in Kamloops last week (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

POSTIVE TESTS

‘A number’ of athletes test positive following B.C. curling championships

Jan 13, 2022 | 11:10 AM

KAMLOOPS — Curl BC says it’s dealing with “a number” of COVID-19 cases following the provincial curling championships in Kamloops last week.

Communications manager with Curl BC Doug Sarti says the organization is still trying to get more information on how many athletes came down with the virus, as not everyone has been tested yet.

“It was definitely more than one team. We’re just trying to figure out how many,” said Sarti. “Also figure out who. There were a number of people who have some symptoms but haven’t been tested. There’s people we haven’t heard back from, so we’re just not sure.”

Curl BC was given the green light by the province to go ahead with the provincials after it was initially postponed before Christmas. The B.C. championships was granted a special exemption and Curl BC put all protocols in place to make the event as safe as possible.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

14h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

“We had hoped nothing would happen and we took a lot of precaution. Originally, we were going to be at the McArthur Island Events Centre and we were hoping to have 500-700 people in the stands. First thing we did was cut out the spectators and go to a smaller club where we had more control over who was coming in and going out,” noted Sarti.

“We had the obvious things like vaccinations, masks and physical distancing, but we also had other things. We set up a zone system — zones for the players, volunteers and press. We greatly reduced occupancy levels on the ice and in the club.”

Curl BC also asked for curlers to stay mainly to their hotel rooms and isolate themselves from the public as best they could. Players were prohibited from going out to restaurants, only allowed to do take-out.

“Of course, everybody’s an adult. We can’t control what people are going to do on their off time, off the ice, but I’d like to think that everybody respected those directives,” said Sarti. “Omicron is just a really tough and wiley adversary. It’s out there and it’s, as much as we try, we can’t guarantee nobody’s going to get it.”

Sarti says the positive tests were discovered after the athletes were eliminated from competition and left Kamloops.

He’s reminding anyone who participated in the curling championships — as an athlete, official or volunteer — to monitor their symptoms and, if needed, get tested. Curl BC is asking anyone who tests positive from the event to contact the organization.