As photos and video of people sitting side by side, having large group picnics and ignoring public health advice were shared widely on social media, city councillor and board of health chair Joe Cressy reacted with disappointment on Twitter.
“Toronto, this will not end well if we don’t all do our part and respect physical distancing,” Cressy said.
“Going outside is good for physical and mental health, but at a distance. We’re by no means out of the woods yet. Anything but. Please, we are all in this together.”
Park dwellers appeared to mostly be in their 20s or 30s, and many were not wearing masks and not keeping two metres apart. The scene was variously described as a nightclub, a cocktail party and disappointing.
Toronto reopened 850 park amenities Saturday after more than two months of closure due to COVID-19.
Health officials on Saturday reported 220 new COVID-19 cases in Toronto, while Ontario reported 412 new cases, along with 27 new deaths related to the virus. The rise in cases in Ontario represents a 1.7% increase over the previous day’s total.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy told CTV that he was missing out on Eid celebrations with his family to treat COVID-19 patients while people in the park ignored all the rules. He called the images sad.
“I wonder if these people know the sacrifices myself and my colleagues in the emergency room and ICU are making,” Dr. Sharkawy said. “I don’t want my ER and my ICU filled up with sick people in another few weeks.”
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said in a tweet she was disappointed by the photos of people in the park.
“I understand that the photos of people in Trinity Bellwoods were disappointing today. It was a beautiful day & we all want to enjoy our city together, but this could be selfish and dangerous behavior that could set us back,” the tweet said.
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