At least 16 COVID cases from men’s provincial curling championship

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/02/2022 (1651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Free Press reported on Tuesday that there were at least two competitors from last week’s men’s provincial curling championship in Selkirk who tested positive for COVID-19. As of Thursday, that number had risen to 16 positive cases.

Curl Manitoba executive director Craig Baker declined comment on the updated number. The organization responded with a statement via email instead: “Individuals at the event have notified Curl Manitoba they tested positive following the championship. Curl MB cannot confirm the number of cases or the identities for privacy purposes. We have contacted all involved, to make them aware and requested they self-monitor for symptoms.”

Fort Rouge’s Ryan Wiebe, a 21-year-old who finished in third place at the Viterra, said he had some minor cold symptoms Sunday night. He ended up testing positive Monday and his third, Ty Dilello, tested positive Wednesday.

“For the most part, I thought the event was very well managed in terms of COVID. Besides testing everybody every day, which we know is maybe a little bit unrealistic, I think they did all that they could,” said Wiebe, who is now feeling fine and has tested negative on his past two tests.

Curl Manitoba tested the competitors from all 28 teams at the men’s provincials, which was won by Mike McEwen and held at the Selkirk Curling Club, the day before the tournament began and none of the tests came back positive. Players also underwent daily temperature checks and had to fill out a pre-screening COVID-19 form online prior to stepping on the ice.

“It just takes one person to catch it, whether it’s at a restaurant or elsewhere,” said Wiebe. “We knew it was a possibility and we were prepared to isolate for the following week and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

The mixed-doubles provincial championship was scheduled to start Thursday at the St. Vital Curling Club and run through Monday, but the event has been axed.

The winner’s journey would’ve ended there anyway, as Curling Canada cancelled the national mixed-doubles championship that was set for March 22-27 in Sudbury, Ont. “Curl Manitoba is striving to host only the provincial championships that lead to a national championship,” the statement continued.

Before testing positive, Dilello was planning on playing the mixed doubles with fiancée Anastasia Ginters. There were 18 mixed doubles teams signed up to play.

“I totally understand why it’s cancelled,” said Dilello. “I think about half of the field there was at least someone that was playing in the Viterra. It seems that most people that went far in the event tested positive if they didn’t have COVID already.

“It’s disappointing for sure, but it sounds like they’re going to try to have it in the fall now at St. Vital again. I guess looking back on it, it didn’t really make sense to have this event the week after the Viterra in case something like this happened.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @TaylorAllen31