Kelowna long weekend crowd draws ire of city councillor amid COVID outbreak

KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – There are concerns the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Kelowna may worsen after video surfaced on social media showing a large, unmasked crowd.

The photo was shared on Twitter by a person who says the footage was taken over the B.C. Day long weekend. The series of tweets also includes a video showing the extent of the crowd.

“They KNEW we were headed into a 4th wave, they declared Central Okanagan an outbreak, but didn’t close indoor dining, didn’t close clubs or restrict gatherings. They let Delta spread so they could get the sweet long weekend tourism dollars,” writes the social media user, who seems to be pointing the finger at local officials. They also cite the outbreak in Whistler driven by the P.1 variant.

https://twitter.com/tired_elle/status/1423056545395314688

Given the Delta variant is a major factor driving most of the new cases, city councillor Mohini Singh is worried about the possible fallout from this event.

She points out the photo and a video of the same night shows many people close together, not wearing masks, despite an order for the Central Okanagan requiring the latter.

“Of course I’m worried. I’m extremely worried,” she told NEWS 1130.

Singh admits Kelowna is a tourist town and the city wants people to visit. However, she notes people need to follow rules to keep everyone safe.

“We welcome tourists to our town, but please, please adhere to the rules.”

There are more than 1,700 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C. — almost 1,000 of them are in the Interior region.

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Last month, the province declared the outbreak for the region that includes Kelowna, discouraging travel to the area. It also reinstated mask requirements for all indoor public spaces in the Central Okanagan, and encouraged face coverings while outdoors if physical distancing isn’t available.

“No one seems to be concerned about the possibility that the pandemic, COVID is still around. And while they’re having a good time, they’re not maintaining social responsibility, and that is a big concern to me,” Singh explained.

She believes, generally, “the average person” is paying attention to rules and recommendations, because people are concerned.

It’s just the few who don’t seem to have regard for the greater good that she has a problem with.

While she says more enforcement could be brought it, it ultimately falls on each individual to do their part.

“It comes down to personal responsibility. We as individuals, as Canadians, as British Columbians have to realize it’s not our safety only, it’s the safety of our loved ones. If anyone puts themselves in a situation where they’re in a crowd, not masked, very close to other people in a large crowd — and if even one person has been exposed to COVID, then potentially an individual has the ability of infecting so many more people,” Singh said.

“We all have to adhere to the rules if we’re going to beat this.”

-With files from Monika Gul