Photo: Nicholas Johansen
Hundreds of people protest COVID-19 measures on Highway 97 and Abbott Street Saturday after marching through downtown Kelowna.
In the past week alone, 106 British Columbians died of COVID-19.
And again, hundreds of people protested measures to slow the spread of the virus on the streets of Kelowna on Saturday, marching down Bernard Avenue, blocking traffic around 2 p.m.
The protests have taken over Stuart Park every Saturday for months, and the number has grown to several hundred. But on Saturday, protesters marched down Bernard Ave, stopping traffic on their way to Highway 97 and Abbott Street. RCMP officers were on site blocking vehicles from crossing Bernard so the demonstrators could pass.
Some waved the term “scamdemic”. Others called for freedom, while some characters Justin Trudeau, John Horgan and Dr. Described Bonnie Henry as “treasonous”.
One woman held a sign that read “Depopulation is her ultimate goal,” while others opposed the use of masks and vaccines in general. Several people yelled “false news” at a local Castanet reporter.
Despite the group’s vocal skepticism about the severity or existence of COVID-19, the virus continues to spread around the world during its second wave this fall.
Active cases have grown to a record high of 9,589 across BC, with 758 in the Interior Health region. On Thursday, BC died of the deadliest COVID. 28 British Columbians died within 24 hours, bringing the total number of COVID deaths in the province to 598.
An outbreak at Oliver’s McKinney Place nursing home has caused 27 residents and 14 employees to contract the virus. But despite this spike in cases and deaths around the world, many protesters on Saturday disbelieve the statistics.
Last week, Dr. Henry gave the protests across BC a “slap in the face” to healthcare workers who have cared for the thousands of people in BC who suffer from COVID-19
“It’s really a slap in the face in a way,” said Dr. Henry. “But we must also, as I have been saying all along, recognize that people have a right to peaceful demonstrations.
“As long as it’s outside and you don’t endanger others, the risk of transmitting the virus is lower, although it is known to be more dangerous than before.”
