A Canadian couple has been accused of violating coronavirus guidelines after flying 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 COVID-19 mobile vaccination clinic in Beaver Creek, Yukon, even though they do not come from the area, which is close to the border with Alaska, Yukon Minister of Community Services , John Streicker. he said in a statement to CBS News.
One of them had a British Columbia medical card and the other an Ontario medical card, according to the statement.
After their visit to Beaver Creek, home to the White River First Nation (WRFN) community, Yukon Civil Emergency Law Enforcement (CEMA) law enforcement officials followed the couple.
Officials determined that the Bakers “violated the requirements of self-isolation of the territory and did not comply with the statements they provided upon entering the territory,” reads Streicker’s statement.
Each was charged with failure to isolate himself for 14 days after entering the territory and “failure to behave in a manner consistent with the declaration provided at entry”.
In his statement, Streicker said he was “outraged by this selfish behavior” and said it was “annoying that people would choose to endanger their Canadian colleagues in this way.”
“Reports claim that these individuals were misleading and violated the emergency measures to their own advantage, which is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during a public health crisis,” Streicker continued.
The law on civil emergency measures of the territory includes several directives to help slow the spread of COVID-19, including self-isolation of external visitors. The fine set for each violation of the order is $ 500.
However, the Bakers were fined $ 1,150 each, WRFN chief executive Sid C. Vander Meer told CBS News via email.
In a statement on Saturday, WRFN said the couple’s punishment was “forgiving” and called for a harsher punishment.
“These individuals made false statements to Yukon government officials about their intentions in the territory and deliberately violated self-isolation orders,” the WRFN said in a statement. “WRFN is particularly concerned about the insensitive nature of these actions taken by individuals, as they have been a blatant disregard for the rules in which we keep our community safe during this unprecedented global pandemic.”
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of people who put the elderly and vulnerable people at risk of crossing the line for selfish purposes,” WRFN chief Angela Demit said in a statement.
“Although we understand that many want to be vaccinated immediately, it is not appropriate to remove the rules that have been implemented and to approach our community in this way,” the statement continued. WRFN was selected for vaccines, given our removal, the elderly and the high-risk population, and 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 no longer affiliated in any way with Great Canadian and has let the company not receive any parting,” the statement said.
“The board of directors of Great Canadian and its management team have no tolerance for actions that run counter to the company’s objectives and core values,” the statement continued.
The company “strictly complies with all directives and guidelines issued by public health authorities” and “any such actions, which are contrary to the company’s core values, which do not comply with GCGC’s strict travel compliance policies and ensure that the company and its employees follow all the guidelines and health directions, will not be tolerated “, it is shown in the statement.