The BC Lions lost (big surprise) to the Edmonton Elks at BC Place stadium Thursday night.
Some photos posted on Twitter showed few people in the crowd wearing masks and many of them forced to cram together as they left the stadium.
This at a time when COVID-19 cases are surging in B.C., including in Metro Vancouver. The province reported 689 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday — including 121 people in hospital, of whom 56 are in intensive care — for a total of 5,982 active cases.
Things were so bad in the Interior Health Authority that public health officials reinstated mandatory masking for indoor public places – sending a message that masks are important to help stop the spread.
It was in this backdrop that multiple people posted video of public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry without a mask as she greeted her fans, who lined up – many without masks – to pay homage to the doctor who has led our province through the pandemic.
Henry has done some amazing things and I respect her, but her actions sent a terrible signal to people about being cautious at a time when the Delta variant is surging. Henry has said she recommends people wear masks in indoor public spaces, but then did the exact opposite. It gives ammo to those anti-maskers fighting any kind of mask mandates.
She was shown posing for selfies without a mask in close proximity with strangers who also were not wearing masks.
The reaction on Twitter was swift and she was rightfully roasted for this. What follows is a portion of what some people said.
Anti-mask culture courtesy of our PHO. #NewDeathParty
— Elle (@tired_elle) August 20, 2021
Two unmasked people taking a selfie with BC’s PHO while yelling “no masks”, followed by laughter and peace signs. pic.twitter.com/YceCQ4nZ12
Hunker down my fellow British Columbians.
— sue robins (she/her) (@suerobinsyvr) August 20, 2021
This was our Provincial Officer of Health last night at a football game.
We do not have the leadership we need to guide us through this pandemic. The government might think the pandemic is over, but it is NOT.
Be careful out there. https://t.co/gUQjzHsTwi
“BuT shE wAs in A prIvatE bOx…” oh ok never mind that queue of strangers lining up to take selfies, Covid-19 must only spread in the cheap seats https://t.co/RJjZkB07LX
— Ian Young (@ianjamesyoung70) August 20, 2021
What is Dr. Bonnie Henry doing?
— Sandy Garossino (@Garossino) August 20, 2021
No mask, no social distancing, cameras.
School starts in a couple of weeks, <12’s aren’t vaccinated, & Delta is 🔥. https://t.co/E2e3VUjTQe
No masks, no in-person press briefings, no plans for back to school. No proper PPE for health care workers.
— Mike McCulloch (@MicMcCulloch) August 20, 2021
Just platitudes, premature declarations of victory, and parties at football games taking selfies between sips. pic.twitter.com/Vd49rl5Jg9
I have been focussed on critiquing govt policy, not individuals.
— Dr. Amy Tan 譚玉英 🟠 Racism=Public Health crisis* (@AmyTanMD) August 20, 2021
But seeing this is breaking me.
I'm exhausted. I don't have energy to go to any game. I work all day doing the best for my pts all who are affected by the isolation of visitor restrictions, to then analyze /1 https://t.co/nvGIDGrp6H
These aren't a bunch of yahoos saying this. These are journalists, scientists and lawyers reacting with horror of the actions of our top doctor.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
