Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Be COVID-19 smart on St. Patrick's Day: officials

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Mar, 2021 08:53 PM
  • Be COVID-19 smart on St. Patrick's Day: officials

Officials in many Canadian provinces are tightening anti-pandemic restrictions to keep St. Patrick's Day from becoming a COVID-19 super-spreader event.

Amid worries about a third pandemic wave, health authorities are urging would-be celebrants to be mindful of the risks and obey all limits on social gatherings.

The city of Kingston, Ont., for example, home to Queen's University, has made live music off limits. The order, which is in place until the end of the week, bars all social gatherings of more than five people and, among other things, limits the sale and service of alcohol.

"It breaks my Irish heart to have to do it but I do think it's prudent," said Dr. Kieran Moore, medical officer of health for Kingston and area said in announcing the measures. "Last year, before we went into lockdown, there was significant social activity associated with St. Patrick's Day and it did put our community at risk."

Failure to comply could result in daily fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and $25,000 for businesses, the city said.

Queen's Alma Mater Society warned students of the risks of flouting the measures, and urged people to stay home and drink responsibly.

"Pandemic gatherings pose a greater risk to the community," the society said. "Be smart, celebrate safely, and stay home this St. Patrick’s Day."

British Columbia has ordered bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol at 8 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, putting a damper in what would typically be a huge night for them.

"(People) can let their guard down," said Al Johnson, with WorkSafeBC. "We don't want that to happen."

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the province's medical officer of health, said the aim was to prevent an explosion of new COVID-19 cases as has been the case with other holidays.

Inspectors would be out in force to ensure compliance, the province said.

In light of the pandemic, some people planned decidedly non-traditional ways of celebrating the occasion.

"Just found out my dad is getting vaccinated in Hamilton this Wednesday!" federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said in a tweet. "What a way for him and our family to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!"

Some areas, like Manitoba, said they would be relying on existing measures to curb alcohol-fuelled gatherings that could hurt efforts to contain the pandemic.

"We already have time restrictions on restaurants and licensed premises," said Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief public health officer. "So, we'll follow our same process for the most part on the restrictions."

Jay Kilgour, general manager of Fionn's in Winnipeg, said Irish music will be playing again on Wednesday.

Bylaw officers in Ottawa, where limits on gatherings and alcohol serving were already in place, were also planning to step up enforcement.

"This is probably not the year to go and party or to have a party at your own home, Mayor Jim Watson has warned.

The city advised celebrating virtually or to stay within household bubbles if going out.

In Atlantic Canada, pubs will be closed or have limited seating, while those in Prince Edward Island will have to obey strict attendance limits, including a ban on mixing and mingling.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Ontario waits for guidance as B.C. delays 2nd dose

Ontario waits for guidance as B.C. delays 2nd dose
Alberto Martin, a University of Toronto immunology professor, says a published clinical trial showed the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided 60 per cent protection, but B.C. may have access to new or unpublished data.

Ontario waits for guidance as B.C. delays 2nd dose

Mounties who shot at other RCMP won't face charges

Mounties who shot at other RCMP won't face charges
The Serious Incident Response team concludes the officers who fired their guns had been told the killer was driving a replica police vehicle and was wearing an orange vest, giving them grounds to believe the officer standing beside a patrol car was the murderer.

Mounties who shot at other RCMP won't face charges

Let's prepare for the next pandemic, feds urge

Let's prepare for the next pandemic, feds urge
Grant is taking part in a Wilson Center forum today with U.S. and Mexican officials about the effort to reset the trilateral relationship.

Let's prepare for the next pandemic, feds urge

Canada must ban coal exports, group says

Canada must ban coal exports, group says
Canada is forcing out any coal-fired power plants that aren't equipped with carbon-capture technology by 2030 and Wilkinson told the alliance summit "there is simply no place for unabated coal" in a net-zero emissions world.

Canada must ban coal exports, group says

Giving bank info to U.S. averted catastrophe: feds

Giving bank info to U.S. averted catastrophe: feds
In a newly filed submission to the Federal Court of Appeal, the Canadian government says failure to comply would have had serious effects on Canada's financial sector, its customers and the broader economy.

Giving bank info to U.S. averted catastrophe: feds

NDP pledges support for small businesses

NDP pledges support for small businesses
Singh unveiled the promises during a campaign-style event in British Columbia on Tuesday, less than a week after he said the New Democrats would not provoke an election as long as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.

NDP pledges support for small businesses