City officials are trying to figure out how a single gym in Quebec City that refused to close orders could be linked to the contagion of at least 419 people, including one 40-year-old man who died after contracting COVID.
Health authorities told CBC that the Mega Fitness Gym violated at least three public health orders before it was forced to close on March 31, just as the city was placed under a new lock amid rising infection rates. The outbreak prompted local health authorities to conduct an epidemiological inquiry into how the virus could have spread so rapidly and whether the infections were caused by the deadly British variant.
The gym owner, Daniel Morino, objected to the government’s mandate by reopening its facility amid a province-wide closure last summer. According to CBC, the gym owner shared social media messages that underestimated the severity of the virus and questioned the need to wear face masks.
In June, police showed up at Morino’s gym after receiving a complaint that he had offered a “major reopening” of five hours of his family business. Morino told a local daily that police officers left the business after a tour without imposing fines or ordering him to lock the gym doors.
“I was not surprised by the presence of the police and I told them to do their job as I did mine,” Marino told Le Journal de Québec, adding that he had taken the necessary precautions to protect his clients. to keep safe.
‘My biggest fear is going bankrupt … I have nothing to lose. If I get a $ 50,000 fine, I’ll add it to my debt. Either way, it will make no difference because I’m going bankrupt. I have invested 25 years of my life in this business and do not want to do anything without it. I will regret it all my life. I’m not the people’s savior, but I’m just trying to save my business. ”
Although Marino maintained that he complied with social distancing measures after defying the lockdown mandates, the director of public health in Quebec said that based on the latest inspection, it was clear that the gym had not taken the necessary safety measures.
According to the director’s statement, reported by CTV, gym goers are not screened for symptoms, employees did not wear the proper personal protective equipment and customers do not distance themselves from each other.
Morino finally closed the Mega Fitness Gym doors to the public on March 31st. But at that point, it was too late. With hundreds infected, one gym client dead and even more casualties – the outbreak occurred in one of the largest superspreader events in Canada.
Mayor Régis Labeaume addressed a few words of directness directed at Dan Marino during the recent exclusion of Quebec City amid Canada’s sluggish vaccine numbers and the huge COVID wave.
“Bravo, champion,” he said. “Everyone has nice biceps, but now people are sick.”