Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

PANDEMIC FATIGUE

As daily COVID-19 cases rise across BC, citizens of Kamloops asked to recommit to virus safety

Jul 21, 2020 | 5:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the past four months, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a whole new way of life for people in Kamloops and around the globe.

Now that summer is here and more businesses have opened up, more people appear to be easing their defences against the coronavirus.

In B.C., the number of positive tests for COVID-19 has risen sharply over the past several weeks. June 28th was the lowest single day before Monday, with just three new cases reported to the province. This past weekend saw 105 cases over a three day period, which is concerning for public officials.

“We’ve been good and the numbers have really reflected that. Now we feel we’ve earned [a break],” Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says. “The fact is, this is still Phase One of this pandemic. We’ve now started to experience some community transmission and we have to be patient.”

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More than four months in, it appears some people’s patience is running thin. Just ask Robert Stodola, who owns the Señor Froggy Mexican Restaurants in Kamloops.

“The people who don’t like the situation or think that we’re going overboard are finding more license to express that disapproval to the people that are working incredibly hard and have made none of the rules,” Stodola tells CFJC Today.

Last week, Señor Froggy posted a message on social media asking customers to respect the staff. Stodola says the majority of the customers who enter his stores have been patient and respectful. However, there are a few exceptions to that rule.

“The frustrating thing is when people decide they’re more important than the rules and that they’re going to take [their frustrations] out on whoever is telling them what to do,” Stodola says.

In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases in Kelowna, the mayor is urging citizens of Kamloops to keep up with their COVID-19 safety routines.

“This is the kind of thing that happens if you let your guard down,” Christian says. “I don’t want that happening in Kamloops.”