Vaughn Palmer: Dr. Henry watching for COVID-19 surge after large anti-racism rallies

VICTORIA — The provincial health officer worries that the large-scale protest rallies held in defiance of her order against gatherings of more than 50 people could help spread COVID-19

“I am disappointed because I know there are very effective ways for small groups of people to demonstrate these important issues and to do it peacefully and to do it safely,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.

But when asked why her order was not enforced to restrict the size of recent rallies in Vancouver, Victoria and elsewhere, she said her approach has always been to educate people then leave it to them “to know what they need to do.”

On Monday, she was asked if she were concerned that there may be a jump in cases as a result of those protest rallies.

“We know that people need to speak up against racism,” she began. “But I am concerned that we need to make sure that we are doing it in a way that respects our right to peaceful demonstration, but also respects that we cannot have impacts.”

The most regrettable impact could be to endanger the very people that the protest is intended to protect.

“We know that Indigenous communities are more differentially affected by this pandemic, and by all pandemics,” Henry explained. “We have seen that many racial communities are also adversely affected and disproportionately so.”

She noted how by all accounts the protests were peaceful. But while some participants wore masks and practised physical distancing, others did not.

“You can have a profound impact by having many small groups, by wearing masks, by maintaining those physical distances, and we have seen that around the world,” she said. “And for those who have been participating in these large groups, especially if there is a lot of chanting and you are close together, those (activities) are risky.”

She urged participants to “monitor yourself for symptoms and if you have any concerns to please get tested.”

These were not after-the-fact admonitions. Last week Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix issued a joint warning regarding the protest rallies that were then being organized in B.C.

“Whether going to the grocery store, seeing friends on a patio or attending a peaceful demonstration, the same rules for safe physical distancing apply,” they declared in a statement issued June 3.?“Be mindful of the risks you are taking and continue to follow the provincial health officer’s order to limit gatherings to no more than 50 people.”

Less precise were the comments made earlier the same day by Premier John Horgan. He made a distinction between restricting attendance at weddings and funerals and allowing much larger crowds at public protests.

“I understand how the public would go ‘what’s the difference?’” Horgan told reporters “But there’s a big difference.”

And what would that be?

“With respect to protests versus official gatherings, if people congregate to have their voices heard in a random way, which although we do have notice that it’s happening, it’s not a scheduled event as a wedding would be, or as a drive-in theatre would be, or any other areas where public health orders are in place,” Horgan rambled. “Free association and the ability to speak about issues that matter in the public square is a fundamental right.

“We’re saying to people let’s have smaller events. If you’re getting married, try and do it under 50 people. I’m saying the same thing to protesters,” the premier continued, trying to have it both ways.

“But I do understand the desire for people to have their voices heard at this most extraordinary time in our world history.”

On the same topic, here’s Dix, talking to reporters a couple of days earlier.

“We have to recognize that we’re in an extended period where there’s going to be a prohibition on mass gatherings so we collectively have to use our imaginations, recognizing the value of other demonstrations,” said Dix.

“In the case of people who cover such things, if I may dare to make a suggestion, recognize virtual gatherings have a real impact and give them recognition: a gathering of 10 different groups of 50 people as opposed to one group of 500 people, a maximum of 50 people against one group of 500 people.”

That same day, Henry was asked if there was any rule in place to prevent protesters from gathering in numbers larger than 50 people.

“There is an order in place around mass gatherings and we have continuously said that 50 people is a maximum,” she told reporters.

But she added: “I cannot control people’s activities. What I can do is provide you with the necessary advice and tools that you need to have a peaceful demonstration in a way that is not going to imperil your family, your loved ones, your community.”

For those inclined to ignore her advice and gather in numbers larger than the guideline, she had this to say:?“The irony is that we may be endangering the people who we are most trying to help with this type of demonstration. That’s what we’ll be looking for in the next little while. I’m hopeful that we haven’t created too much damage and we’ll be able to continue to move forward.”

The next couple of weeks will tell whether it is her hopes or her fears that are borne out following the disregard of her order.

vpalmer@postmedia.com