Trinity Bellwoods Park Overcrowding Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things During Pandemic
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford added his voice to the condemnation of people who crowded into a downtown park on Saturday during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“The images I saw yesterday, from Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto — I thought it was a rock concert,” Ford said during an update on Sunday. “I was absolutely shocked.”
It’s understandable that people want to enjoy the nice weather, he said, but he urged Ontarians to exercise caution.
“We just can’t have that right now. It’s just too many people too close,” Ford said. “There’s still a deadly virus amongst us. And if we allow it, it will spread. It will spread like wildfire.”
Cases continue to mount in Ontario, with 460 confirmed cases reported on Sunday and 25 more deaths related to the virus. Close to half of province’s active cases are in the Toronto health region.
According to the city, thousands of people packed Trinity Bellwoods Park on one of the first warm days of the year, and numerous photos and video posted to social media showed the park-goers seemingly disregarding physical distancing requirements.
Unhappy to report that Trinity Bellwood’s looks like a nightclub right now. pic.twitter.com/k0ftTIIS3o
— Laura Howells (@LauraHowellsNL) May 23, 2020
Just another #fracking#summer#blowout day in the park. So much for #phase1@fordnation get ready for next spike! 😷 pic.twitter.com/xDXhUvCotT
— Trinity Bellwoods (@TrinityBellwood) May 23, 2020
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, was blunt in responding to the images of the public park gatherings, saying on Twitter Saturday: “... this could be selfish & dangerous behaviour that could set us back.”
Keeping one’s distance from others and regular hand-washing have been the top medical recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which bring symptoms that include fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing.
“You’re putting yourself, your parents, your grandparents, and your friends...
