Opinion: Travel bans and restrictions do little to nothing

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Since December of 2020, new restrictions and rules have been put in place in BC to help combat and prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the following months leading up to the present day, there have been new iterations and rules toppled on one another to try and stop people from gathering. Yet none of that has done anything to motivate people from hanging out. Listen, I am 110% down to quell this virus. I have followed the guidelines very seriously. My girlfriend and I have 1 other friend we go on walks with. We keep our distance, say hello, then go home…That is it. Any other activity, such as going for a drink on a patio is strictly my partner and me, but that is not stopping other people from going in groups of 2 to 5 for a drink on a patio, and I can guarantee they don’t all live together. Back in December, my girlfriend took me out to dinner for my birthday. As we sat down the table across from us had a middle-aged couple talking away and enjoying their drinks…then 2 other couples waved to them and said, “hey it is so nice to see you, wow it has been so long!” as they trotted over and sat down with them… Immediately in my head, I was thinking what the fu**! Seriously? If you are going to break the rules, at least don’t be so obvious about it!

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Then it got me thinking. What happens if you get caught breaking the rules? Well, you get fined, right? Or you are subject to getting fined. Okay, paying a hefty fine is never fun, that must stop some people. Nope! I still see groups of people gather at parks or go for drinks every weekend. The rules in place from December to now are crap. The health orders kept getting extended and the rules stacked like a tower of pancakes. I think the rules are half-baked. I think the most serious BC has ever been about COVID-19, was back when this all started and everything was shut down. Then things calmed down before Christmas, and they loosened the restrictions. Then after the holidays, low and behold things started to ramp up again. More rules were put in place, but it was too late and not as strict as the initial lockdown. Why did we not just have another lockdown? Is the government afraid people will get angry? They already are. Life has drastically changed, and it may never be the same again. Worried about the economy? Ha, hasn’t the economy been shit for a while now? Or has it just not changed for me, because I’m a broke-ass student?

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Whether you believe in COVID or not, if the government had mentioned the word lockdown, people would probably have taken the rules more seriously. It also would have made it easier to give out fines or press actual charges! Right and wrong would be more obvious. resulting in people having less ways to exploit the rules like they currently are. According to a Global News article from May 8th, 2021, RCMP spokesperson, Dawn Roberts said the RCMP will release their times and locations for travel check stops, so the public could know when and where these stops would take place… As of today, the first ticket has been issued for the entirety of the travel ban, according to an article from CTV News. What does this tell me? It tells me I could just drive to where I want when you are not doing check stops. Wouldn’t they rather have people think that at any time during their travel there could be a check stop? They might as well start posting when and where they will be pulling people over to do breathalyzer tests too.

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Instead of the government making a more concrete decision for rules and restrictions. They are like an adult telling another adult, that if they do not follow the rules, they could get a spanking. Would you take a grown-ass adult seriously if they told you, you would get a spanking? Don’t put this into dirty context…Honestly though it is laughable. I could hop in my car right now and drive over to the Okanagan for a little getaway. If I run into a check stop, I could say I’m a student going back to my parent’s place, I’m helping a friend move out from the Okanagan to Vancouver, or I’m looking at places because I’m moving to the Okanagan. Any of these answers would go unchallenged, and I could be on my merry way to wherever I want without question…. For the first time, my student ID holds more power than just giving me a student discount at participating stores…Hooray? Perhaps I come off too strong when it comes to rules and lockdowns, but I still think we should have had another. It would have been a great incentive for people to keep following guidelines because if they didn’t, we would have to stay home. It would make anyone who does not follow the rules look like a complete dill-weed.

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I guess what I’m trying to say is from the start things should have been harsher. Punishments should have been set in place to prevent people from being blatantly inconsiderate of other people’s health, because the current fines are not scaring anyone. Daily Hive covered a whole story about some penthouse owner, who had a make-shift nightclub in his penthouse, and he refused to pay fines for disobeying health orders. Luckily, that ended, and Mr. Penthouse had to pay his fines, spend a day in jail and be on 18-month probation. They should have given him more jail time, but at least it is something.

We also can’t forget about servers at restaurants. Imagine how a server feels when a group of people come to have some food and drinks, and there is no way in hell they are from the same household. It would enrage me. Look, I get it. I miss doing things too, I miss seeing friends and family, but the longer we have dimwits out there not following the guidelines, the longer it will take. I know for certain overseeing these decisions and running health regulations for a whole province is hard work. I don’t think I could ever do it. I’m just some idiot with a mouth and an opinion who never shuts up. I think if BC were harsher with its rules, we would be in a better position than we currently are.

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The good thing is vaccines are here and the cases have gone down. Right now people in their 40’s can book appointments! I cannot wait until people 30 and under can book their appointment. If you have received your vaccine or have booked your appointment, congratulations! However, people need to still be smart about this. So, stay safe and try and stay happy.

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