A rare thing happened recently on social media.
People actually welcomed the rain. After a stint of sunny weather, people were (rightly) losing their minds at photos of people not practising social distancing at beaches, in parks and on trails.
The sun lured people out despite COVID-19 warnings to stay out of groups. Then the rain came and people were actually thrilled because it would reduce the number of people assembling in groups outdoors.
Now, the forecast predicts sunny weather going well into next week – hitting 17C according to my weather app.
It’s also a long weekend, which doesn’t mean as much as it normally does because so many people have been laid off.
All this means more people will be tempted to tempt fate and gather outdoors and not practice social distancing rules.
The Twitter account @Twang_this tweeted out this photo of people gathered in a Burnaby park. They are somewhat separated, but they are still far too close. These folks and others should be staying home.
The City of Burnaby likely won’t be closing any of its parks to slow the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Mike Hurley says, even as Metro Vancouver closed one of its parks in the region.
A likely next step, Hurley said, would be to close parking lots for parks if it becomes too difficult to enforce social distancing, a move the City of Vancouver recently made to discourage too many visitors at the city’s green spaces.
So be warned. Abuse the rules and the parks will be closed.
Our health officials keep saying over and over again one clear message.
Stay home.
Time for more people to listen, no matter how nice the weather is outside.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
