Organizer of fully vaccinated Ontario hockey league where COVID-19 outbreak hit looks for answers
The organizer of an adult hockey league in Newmarket, Ont. is looking for answers after one of his players died and 14 others who were all fully vaccinated became infected with COVID-19 in a matter of days.
"Why couldn't we avoid this scenario," said Craig Adlam, who runs the Midas 3-on-3 League.
York Region Public Health has linked 15 confirmed cases to games played on Sept. 27, Sept. 30 and Oct. 4 at the National Training Rinks.
"It happened on three different nights with different guys, so it's not like one guy came in, came back the Thursday night and then came back the following Monday," said Adlam, who like the players is baffled by what happened. "How is that happening?"
Garry Weston, 75, of Oro-Medonte died in hospital on Oct. 21, two weeks after contracting the virus in late September while playing in the over 50 men's hockey league.
Weston died after suffering a severe stroke while fighting pneumonia caused by COVID-19, his family says.
"When I heard it, I couldn't believe it," said Adlam, who recalled the last text messaged he exchanged with Weston. "He texted me he has the sniffles, I wrote him a text back, 'you're strong Garry, you're going to get through this' and he didn't reply."
Garry Weston, 75, died after a COVID-19 outbreak swept through his Newmarket, Ont. hockey league. (Supplied)
Players were required to provide proof of vaccination and health officials confirmed all were breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated players.
"Certainly it's unusual to see a cluster like this because the vaccines are generally effective," said Dr. Richard Gould, the acting medical officer of health for York Region. "You can get some transmission and particularly in situations where people are not wearing a mask, they are very active and breathing heavily so that increases the potential for exposure."
Dr. Gould noted that players are not required to wear masks when playing on the ice and on the bench, increasing the likelihood of transmission.
"I believe that one of them (player) was infected when they started playing," said Dr. Gould. "It's possible too if they were vaccinated and had the infection, they didn't have any symptoms."
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that recreational hockey has the right conditions for a “superspreader event” of COVID-19 in a report released in October 2020.
“The ice rink provides a venue that is likely well suited to COVID-19 transmission as an indoor environment where deep breathing occurs, and persons are in close proximity to one another,” the CDC report stated.
"Cold air is protective of COVID, in other words it's a bit more dangerous for us, so if you got a situation with close physical contact and people breathing hard on each other without masks it does sound like a perfect storm," said Dr. Colin Furness , an expert in infectious disease epidemiology from the University of Toronto.
At the same time, Furness expressed concern over the Newmarket outbreak.
"I would expect transmission between two teams, not among a whole league."
Health officials are stressing that the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective, but that breakthrough infections are possible.
They are also urging people to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms.
York Public Health has requested genome testing to determine whether there are any unusual variants of the virus, which could take two weeks to get results, Dr. Gould said.
The hockey league resumed play this week after suspending games once they were made aware of positive cases, but some players are opting not to return.
"A lot of guys have packed in because of this and I don't blame them," said Adlam.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Consumers will receive a temporary tax break on essential items and common stocking stuffers heading into the holiday season, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday, alongside a spring $250 rebate for 18.7 million Canadians.
Mother charged after infant dies in midtown Toronto: police
The mother of an infant who died after being found at an apartment building in midtown Toronto on Wednesday has been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
2 arrested during Greenpeace protest outside Stornoway residence in Ottawa
Two people have been arrested following a protest outside Stornoway, the official residence of Canada's leader of the Opposition.
Arrest warrant issued for suspect charged in Toronto airport gold heist
Peel police say a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of one of the suspects charged in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Son of Norway crown princess detained for one week in rape probe
The son of Norway's crown princess will be jailed for up to one week while police investigate accusations of rape made against him, a judge ruled on Wednesday.
Watch Dramatic video shows officers save driver from burning truck after brakes fail
Stunning video shows officers in Columbus, Ohio jumping into action to save a driver from his burning pickup truck.
Jussie Smollett's conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned
The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned actor Jussie Smollett's conviction on charges that he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lied to police.
Canadian painting found in barn, purchased for US$50 sells for hundreds of thousands at auction
An Emily Carr painting that sold for US$50 at an estate sale has fetched C$290,000 at a Toronto auction.
1991-2024 Sea Bears player Chad Posthumus dies at 33
Sea Bears centre Chad Posthumus has died at age 33.