Something I’ve learned throughout the pandemic is that the COVID-19 deniers will seize on any mistake or change in messaging to confirm their tinfoil-hat conspiracies.
A second thing I’ve learned is that many people will look for any way to get out of restrictions.
And thirdly, the general public are stressed out and want clear information.
All three of these points are why I’m so frustrated with how B.C. health officials – yes, including the anointed saint Dr. Bonnie Henry – botched Saturday’s special announcement of new restrictions to deal with skyrocketing COVID-19 cases.
Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced restrictions as far as keeping within your “household” and that only led to utter confusion with people.
It was so bad that on Sunday, Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health sent out *cough* “clarifications” that only seemed to muddy the waters even more because they couldn’t seem to agree on all of the messaging.
That led to *coughs harder* even more “clarification” today (Monday) of what all of these restrictions mean for people.
So NO SOCIALIZING AT ALL. Except in restaurants. If they are indoors. I think. Is. That. Clear.
— Ian Young (@ianjamesyoung70) November 9, 2020
I’ve already received a couple of messages from anti-maskers saying this confusion is why they refuse to listen to health officials. Yes, I know this is garbage logic, but why give these folks ammunition?
One group that was especially irked was people who are single because they were unclear on what constituted their “household.”
Clarification on new B.C. provincial health orders says people who live alone in Metro Vancouver are exempt from a complete ban on household guests.
This weekend, to address a dramatic increase in the region's COVID-19 cases, Dr. Bonnie Henry banned indoor and outdoor social gatherings and group physical activities – other than with members of your immediate household.
But for those who live alone, there's a different set of rules.
Nobody considers people they don’t live with part of their household. Who concocted this messaging? https://t.co/anByIo4vs9
— Kelvin🦝Gawley (@byGawley) November 9, 2020
They "can continue to see members of what they would consider their immediate household at home, outside or at a restaurant,” Vancouver Coastal Health said.
Well, OK then.
In the future, when announcing something as big as this, health officials need to get the messaging straight.
- with files from Sarah Grochowski, Vancouver is Awesome
