It would have been easier had Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry simply listed what can proceed, rather than what cannot continue, under her latest health orders concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.
With changes to the rules seemingly happening daily, COVID-19 confusion is rampant, with many people not aware of what is, and what is not, permitted.
Adding to a perplexed populace is what appears to be an inconsistent application of permissible and non-permissible events and activities.
For example, a yoga class is against the rules, but working out with a personal trainer is allowed. Meeting family members who live with you in a restaurant or pub is fine, but sitting in a church with those same people is not permitted. Some have asked why the latter is considered more dangerous than the former when the composition of the groups would be the same.
The confusion with the orders, meanwhile, extends from sports to theatres to social bubbles.
Movie theatres remained open over the weekend, much the annoyance of some live theatre operators, as the interpretation of the Nov. 19 orders was that movie theatres could remain open.
On Monday, Henry clarified that movie theatres should remain closed.
Some junior hockey games proceeded after Henry said teams should stay in their health regions. Games were then shelved when it was clarified that teams should not leave their communities.
What would help?
How about a televised town hall with questions from reporters and the public? How about a simple, but exhaustive, FAQ online, with a method of giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to activities typed into a search engine?
Despite the confusion, the advice and orders boil down to wearing masks, staying home as much as possible and hanging out only with the people in your household.
