6 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
Opinion MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY
People planning to break COVID rules
We have entered a new driving it all is the highly phase in this pandemic transmissible Omicron, and it could not have which is infecting mostly come at a worse time. fully vaccinated people. There are new panThe key question in the demic restrictions just in weeks ahead is whether time for the holiday seaour hospital system (parson and I’m seeing a litticularly health care worktle more pushback to them ers) is overwhelmed by a than previously. surge in COVID-19 cases. In many instances, the Thousands of people getnew rules are like the old ting sick with Omicron is rules that we have experione thing; a large percentenced before: only small age of them heading to numbers allowed for social hospital is quite another. gatherings, no weddings This past weekend saw a or funerals, lower venue mild uptick in COVID-19 capacities, fewer events, hospitalizations but not closed gyms and dance a huge surge.That could classes. change in the days ahead, This is all happening particularly on Vancouas the Omicron variant ver Island and in the Vanof COVID-19 is racing couver Coastal Health Auaround much of the world thority, where there has and infecting people at an been an explosion of cases incredibly rapid pace. It in recent days. will be the dominant variHenry has always said ant in B.C. and much of her strategy in taking on Canada within days. COVID-19 is based on But this is also happenthree goals: minimizing seing at a time when close vere outcomes (i.e. deaths) to 90 per from contractcent of the ing the virus, I think these not B.C. eligible allowing it folks are a population to overwhelm has been the health minority in the care fully vaccisystem, public. nated (and and providing the number minimal disruptions to soof booster ciety. doses is We have growing largely accomplished 25,000 a day) and we’ve the first goal and we are all gotten use to wearing at crunch time when it masks and keeping our distance and not gathering comes to the second. I would argue the third goal in large numbers at social has largely been mainoccasions. tained, even with the new Understandably, people restrictions. feel they have done their Some scientists theorize part for so long now and that perhaps Omicron will simply want a break from become a “nuisance virus” it all. Call it “COVID fathat infects a lot of people tigue.” but does not inflict a lot of Yet the severity of the situation can be meadamage. Let’s hope so. sured by Henry’s move The next few weeks are to tighten restrictions so critical.There will be some quickly – just days – after folks who choose not to she first announced some obey the rules but I susrather modest measures. pect most of us have gotWhen daily COVID-19 ten used to our new way cases go from 350 a day of living. to more than 1,000 a day COVID fatigue or not, in just one week it is more we are entering potentially than enough reason to the most dangerous time sound the alarm bells. And during the pandemic.
Topic: Should we host the 2030 Olympics? “The legacy will benefit the province for generations to come.”
“The Olympics are a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Charles Sandor
Gary Killacky via Facebook
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OUR TEAM
We are very concerned because that means they were following her to the school. Byron Cruz, story page 3
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LARA GRAHAM Publisher
lgraham@newwestrecord.ca
Quay market opens to the public A stampede of shoppers to the New Westminster Quay public market, which opened its doors in midJuly, had slowed to a trickle by the end of August, but shoppers and officials weren’t worried yet.They pointed to the opening of the PNE and the distraction of back-to-school shopping, which they believed accounted of the slowdown.They expected business to pick up again in September.The market had 53 merchants selling everything from fresh pesto and pasta to New Zealand sheepskin rugs.
CHRIS CAMPBELL
Editor
ccampbell@newwestrecord.ca
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