A Canadian couple charged with trespassing coronavirus guidelines after they allegedly flew from Vancouver to a rural area with a population of less than 125 to be vaccinated.
On January 21, the couple, identified as Rodney and Ekaterina Baker, went to a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Beaver Creek, Yukon, even though they are not from the area, which is close to the Alaska border, John Streicker, Minister of Community Services, of Yukon. said in a statement to CBS News.
According to the statement, one of them has a health care card from British Columbia and the other one has a health care card from Ontario.
After their visit to Beaver Creek, home of the White River First Nation (WRFN) community, Yukon Civil Emergency Measures (CEMA) law enforcement officers succeeded the couple.
Officials determined that the Bakers “violated the area’s self-isolation requirements and did not comply with the statements they made upon entering the area,” Streicker said in a statement.
They were each charged with failure to isolate themselves for 14 days after entering the area and that they ‘failed to act in accordance with the statement given upon entering the area.
In his statement, Streicker said he was “furious about this selfish behavior” and that it was “disturbing” that people would choose to endanger fellow Canadians in this way. ‘
“Reports claim that these individuals were misleading and violated emergency measures to their own advantage, which is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during a public health crisis,” Streicker continued.
The Civilian Emergency Measures Act in the area contains several prescriptions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, including self-isolation of visitors from outside. The fine imposed for each violation of the order is $ 500.
However, the C. Bakker imposed a fine of $ 1,150 each, Sid C. Vander Meer, executive director of the WRFN, told CBS News by email.
WRFN said in a statement on Saturday that the couple’s punishment was “mild” and called for a harsher punishment.
“These individuals made false statements to Yukon government officials about their intentions within the area, and willingly violated the orders of self-isolation,” WRFN said in the statement. “WRFN is particularly concerned about the insensitive nature of these individuals’ actions, as it was a blatant disregard for the rules in which our community is kept safe during this unprecedented global pandemic.”
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of individuals who endanger our elders and vulnerable people to pursue selfishness for selfish purposes,” WRFN chief Angela Demit said in the statement.
“While we understand that many want to be vaccinated immediately, it is not appropriate to apply the rules that have been put in place and approach our community in this way,” the statement continued. “WRFN has been selected for vaccines given our remote, elderly and high-risk population, as well as limited access to health care.”
In an email to CBS News, a representative of the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation said that as of Monday, Rodney Baker is no longer the president and CEO of Great Canadian. “He is in no way affiliated with Great Canadian and has not left the company any form of separation freedom,” the statement said.
“Greater Canada’s board of directors and its management team do not tolerate any action that is inconsistent with the company’s objectives and core values,” the statement continued.
The company “follows all guidelines and guidelines issued by public health authorities” and “any such conduct that is contrary to the core values of the company, which does not comply with GCGC’s strict travel compliance policies, and ensures that the company and its employees follow all health guidelines and directions, will not be tolerated, ”reads the statement.