The COVID-19 pandemic

[ac3r]

I think the issue is mostly that Karen Redman is a public leader for this city and should be projecting a better message than "it's Oktoberfest, hit the beer tents everyone!" in the middle of a pandemic. Sure, the festival venues are doing their best to adhere to the public health rules, but they can't be expected to protect us from others - especially drunk people at a party. I think we all have a hard enough time walking through Zehrs without people getting too close at times, but we're supposed to accept that it's okay to sit around indoors without masks with a couple dozen people while everyone shouts really loudly, eats and drinks.

It just comes off as being irresponsible for a politician to pull a political photo stunt to generate business when case numbers are rising incredibly fast throughout the province and within our own city. We are really struggling to send a coherent message to the residents of this province on what we're supposed to be doing about these rising case numbers. We're being told to reconsider Thanksgiving dinner with our own families, but that it's fine to get drunk indoors with complete strangers.

You raise the issue about social bubbles, but it's important to note that health officials in Toronto and elsewhere are now saying that it's time we annul that idea for now because the level of transmission is growing so rapidly. This is definitely not the time to be holding an Oktoberfest...we've been watching things get worse and worse for weeks.

1 - People are not drunk.
2 - There was no shouting / singing.
3 - There are not a "couple of dozen" sitting around without masks.  Table max was 6.  Tables were more than 2m apart.  Only those from the same household were allowed to sit at the same table.
4 - If anyone was standing away from the table, they were quickly moved back.  There was no inter-table mingling.

I get @danbrotherston is against restaurants in general during this time, and I respect his right to feel that way.  Not sure your thoughts on them, but these events are the same as every other restaurant, and in fact, are much safer than the nightclubs that opened for a short period.

Coke

Reckless beyond belief.