Image Credit: Flickr / BC Government

By Ashley Legassic

COVID-19

B.C. health officials warn against jumping to conclusions about pandemic travellers

Apr 14, 2020 | 4:43 PM

VICTORIA — Health officials in B.C. are asking the public to be thoughtful and not rush to judgement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Tuesday (Apr. 14) news briefing with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, CFJC Today raised concerns raised by Shuswap residents earlier this week regarding an influx of tourists.

READ MORE: Shuswap Lake area residents anxious about arrival of seasonal visitors

Smaller communities across the province have been worried about a wave of visitors in the midst of a global pandemic.

The Village of Tofino introduced a make-shift information station ahead of the Easter long weekend, according to News 1130. RCMP and Parks Canada officials stopped drivers to ask where they were coming from and where they were heading to — although they didn’t turn anyone away.

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However, Henry says blocking off areas won’t prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“There’s no benefit — and we’ve seen that around the world — from trying to block people from coming into an area. It’s not going to prevent the transmission of this virus necessarily,” Henry said. “Having said that, what we want is everybody to lay low and stay home.”

Both Henry and Dix pointed out that there are legitimate reasons why people may need to travel at this time.

“There are legitimate reasons why people may need to check up on family and friends. So I would just say be patient, don’t assume that people don’t have a legitimate reason to be somewhere,” Henry said. “I think there’s a lot more concern and we need to be thoughtful about people and not just assume because you see a licence plate or you see somebody you don’t recognize that they don’t have a valid reason for doing what they’re doing.”

Dix added that people have overwhelmingly been abiding by Henry’s advice and orders in the province — which can add heightened awareness of those who may not be following the rules.

“I absolutely agree that people in the Shuswap would have seen Alberta plates, but it’s very hard to be comparative about these things,” Dix said. “Both myself and the Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro spoke last week and we continue to work, speak with one voice, about people from B.C. not travelling unnecessarily to Alberta, and people from Alberta not travelling unnecessarily to B.C.

“And as well though… be kind, to understand that we sometimes don’t know other people’s circumstances, and we have to be in these times, I think, extra vigilant about being generous in times that are difficult for everybody.”

Dix also pointed out that BC Ferries traffic on its main route over the Easter weekend was down 92 per cent compared to the long weekend last year.