B.C. nurse losing patience with ‘unfair’ anti-mask demonstrations
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Allowing anti-mask protests to go ahead despite a public health order against public gatherings is a “slap in the face” to health-care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, says a registered nurse.
Like many health-care facilities, the Fraser Health hospital where Kimcarlson works is in the middle of an outbreak.
“People don't realize what it's like for health-care workers right now,” she said. “To watch numerous people dying of COVID. It's heartbreaking.”
Carlson said the influx of sick people from care homes has been devastating: “Imagine a family losing a pair of parents or grandparents within days of each other.”
Meanwhile, staff at all levels are exhausted after months of managing the pandemic.
“The public doesn't see how afraid we are,” she said. “We live with a constant fear of getting it and spreading it.”
Carlson said the anti-mask protests on the weekends in Vancouver are unfair to those who are abiding by the public health orders.
“We are all suffering. But allowing these protests to go on without ticketing is throwing it in our face,” she said. “It feels disrespectful to people who have COVID, or those who have lost their loved ones.”
In a statement, Vancouver police Const. Tania Visintin said Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers “support people's right to peaceful protest because it is their democratic right — whether or not they agree with what is being protested.”
Officers must exercise their discretion when balancing a citizen's right to peaceful protest with the current potential harm of gatherings.
“Mass arrests are not possible or desirable,” said Visintin. “Ticketing and arrests could escalate an already passionate situation, and when there are larger groups of people, the risk of injury to both protesters and police officers rises.”
But she added that the VPD'S position does not guarantee anyone special privileges at a protest. “The bottom line is that if people are contravening the public health order, they could be issued a ticket.”
The City of Vancouver responded to a Postmedia News request with a statement clarifying that enforcing physical distancing in public with penalties is the jurisdiction of the provincial government. City staff are responsible for ensuring compliance at city beaches, parks, bars, restaurants and businesses offering personal services.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks confirmed they have parted company with the team's anthem singer, Mark Donnelly, after he sang ‘O Canada' at an anti-mask rally Saturday.
B.C. Christmas Freedom Rally 2020 took place Saturday afternoon outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, which has been the site of numerous anti-mask rallies throughout the pandemic, often drawing an assortment of anti-mask and anti-vaccine advocates, conspiracy theorists and other far-right figures.
Carlson said British Columbians need to work together as a “giant team” to stop COVID-19 from overwhelming the health-care system and devastating our families.
“People are dying of COVID daily, and our staff are getting sick,” she said.