The time for fatherly scolding is now past

The so-called “mega meet-up” that took place last weekend at the Ancaster Meadowlands (in the movie theatre parking lot) is illustrative of a growing COVID-19 related problem.

You could call it wilful denial. Or malicious ignorance. It’s when people consciously violate public health guidelines, either because they don’t see the need to obey them, they just don’t care, or they literally believe this is one big hoax.

That was the view put forward by one of the rally participants. Happily, it’s restricted to the lunatic fringe, but unhappily that segment of the population seems to be growing as the pandemic wears on.

The question is, what do we do about this sort of behaviour? The car rally, which attracted hundreds of cars, drivers and hangers-on, is an extreme example. It was big enough that it attracted police attention. While there were no tickets handed out or arrests at the clearly illegal event, police are still investigating and there may yet be charges. In our view, there should be, in fact.

But this refusal to respect well defined safety guidelines is happening more and more at all levels. At a Hamilton Mountain cemetery this week you could watch as at least 25 people attended an interment ceremony, no masks visible, no distancing at all, attendees ranging from a baby to an elderly person. In stores across the city, you can see people wearing masks improperly, some without masks entirely.

Not since the beginning of the pandemic has this situation been as urgent. Quebec is already declaring itself in the midst of a second wave. Ontario’s provincial government seems unwilling to acknowledge the same thing — yet — but daily case numbers are growing at the same rate as in Quebec. Expecting a different outcome here is head-in-the-sand foolish.

Federal health authorities are now saying we’re at a precipice, and if we fall the wrong way the results could be even more serious than six months ago.

But six months ago, at the beginning of all this, there wasn’t this fatigue with measures that restrict our freedoms. The vast majority of us worked very hard to optimize safety and minimize risk, and it seemed to work. In August it looked as if we might actually have flattened the curve, but then came economic reopening and back-to-school, and now things are back to looking very bleak.

The difference is that more of us are unwilling to accept that and retrench in the name of public safety. We tried that and look where it got us. The sentiment is understandable to a point, but the virus doesn’t care about understandable human frailty. We are opening the door and inviting it back in, and it is seizing the opportunity.

So what must we do about the scofflaws who won’t do the right thing? One thing is clear: While Premier Doug Ford’s fatherly stern advice and cajoling (C’mon folks, work with me here ...) are no doubt heartfelt, they are no longer working if they ever did. He and other leaders need to go beyond that and put in place systemic measures that will actually make a difference — including acting as a deterrent.

Yes, this is scary talk. We’re talking about a slippery slope. Are we really ready to start fining people who gather in violation of public health guidelines? To give them tickets? To seize their vehicles if necessary, as it might be at an event like the Ancaster rally? To incarcerate the most serious offenders?

That’s about the last thing we would want to see, and we’re betting most of you feel the same. But we’re not talking about minor offences here. We’re talking about people who, through their deliberate actions, become public health menaces. Surely their individual rights are trumped by our collective right to optimal public safety.