City officials are trying to find out how a single gym in Quebec that refused to comply with blockade orders could have been linked to the infection of at least 580 people, including a 40-year-old man who died after contracting COVID.
Health officials told the CBC that the Mega Fitness gym violated at least three public health orders before being forced to close on March 31, just as the city was placed under another blockade amid rising rates. infection. The outbreak prompted local health authorities to conduct an epidemiological investigation into how the virus was able to spread so quickly and whether the infections were caused by the UK deadly variant.
The owner of the gym, Daniel Morino, protested against the closure of the business mandated by the government, reopening the headquarters in the middle of a provincial blockade last summer. According to the CBC, the owner of the gym had shared posts on social networks that minimized 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 hosted a “big reopening” of his family business at 5 p.m. Morino told a local daily that after touring the business, police officers left without imposing fines or ordering them to close the gym doors.
“I was not surprised by the presence of the police and told them to do their job the way I did mine,” Marino told Le Journal de Québec, adding that he had taken the necessary precautions to keep customers safe.
“My biggest fear is to go bankrupt … I have nothing to lose. If I’m fined $ 50,000, I’ll add it to my debt. Either way, it won’t make a difference, because I’m going bankrupt. I have invested 25 years of my life in this business and I do not want to give up business without doing anything. I would regret my whole life. I’m not the savior of people, I’m just trying to save my business. ”
Although Marino claimed to have joined the social distancing measures after defying the blocking warrants, the Quebec City director of public health said that based on the last inspection, it was clear that the gym had not taken appropriate safety measures.
According to the director’s statement, which was reported by CTV, the participants in the room were not screened for symptoms, the employees did not wear adequate personal protective equipment, and the clients did not physically distance themselves from each other.
Morino finally closed the doors of the Mega Fitness Gym to the public on March 31. But at that moment, it was too late. With hundreds of people infected, a single gym client and more victims to come – the outbreak has turned into one of the biggest events in Canada.
Addressing the latest blockade in Quebec City, amid Canada’s backward vaccination rate and COVID’s stunning third wave, Mayor Régis Labeaume had a few words of choice directed directly at Dan Marino.
“Well done, champion,” he said. “Everyone has beautiful biceps, but now people are sick.”