When Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a new public health order restricting gatherings, people had questions.
Some were just trying to clarify who could gather with who, but others were looking for sneaky ways to skirt the rules.
This could be the motive behind what NOW reader Rae spotted on Saturday in the food court at Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby at around 3 p.m.
Rae was shopping and wandered by the food court, which at Lougheed is actually really nice.
Here’s what Rae saw:
“When I took a closer look it was filled with people visiting each other. One group was playing cards, one was exchanging presents. The one that upset me the most was a birthday party of about 12 people and a baby, most not wearing masks. Most of the groups I saw were not eating food from the court. Kids were running around unattended. I don't know why this bothered me so much but it did. Is this a new thing since we can't visit at home with people?”
Well, no, I don’t think this is actually allowed. People are allowed to go out to eat, but only with their own households, I believe.
You certainly aren’t supposed to get together with a bunch of people to party it up.
That’s why people are so sad about Christmas – you’re supposed to keep it to your household.
Sadly, some people just don’t care and are willing to risk their health and the health of others to do this.
This story comes as news that there are now 47,067 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C. after health officials announced 1,667 new cases Monday and 41 new deaths.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 341 individuals are hospitalized, 80 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. There are 9,651 people under active public health monitoring for the virus.
There are 9,718 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C. and 35,455 people have recovered from the virus.
So, COVID-19 is still a tire fire and people are out partying. There you go.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
