After weeks of shut-in and sacrifice for most of us, seeing our neighbours hosting a backyard barbecue or gathering at the beach can trigger a visceral response.
Following a sunny long weekend, we had no shortage of outrage in our inbox and on social media. In response to so-called covidiots flouting the provincial health officer’s orders, there are now covigilantes seeking to shame them and demand rigid enforcement and fines for people having picnics in the park or going for a run on the trails.
A reminder: While staying physically confined to our homes will reduce our likelihood of transmitting the disease to zero, going outside for a walk remains very low risk.
People who live together, like families or roommates, are not required to keep apart from one another in public. And not everyone has their own backyard to retreat to for some badly needed fresh air.
Of course, it’s best if people stick close to home, but the more public trails and parks that are closed, the more densely that people will gather in the ones still open. We wonder if it wouldn’t be better to give us all more room to breathe, not less.
While we wait for the virus to run its course, slapping people with hefty fines would be emotionally satisfying for some, but it’s not what our medical health officer is calling for.
Thankfully, our public health decisions are being guided by evidence, not populist anger.
In addition to telling us to do whatever is in our power to stop the spread of the virus, Dr. Bonnie Henry has consistently emphasized other doctor’s orders: Be calm and be kind.
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