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Health officials remind public to stay vigilant after sunny weekend

The nation’s capital got its first taste of summer weather over the weekend with climbing temperatures and lots of sunshine. Brighter days don’t mean we should be acting too care-free say public health officials across the country. 

“Now is not the time to ease up on our efforts that have been keeping this virus pinned down,” says Ottawa’s top doctor Vera Etches. The sentiment has been echoed over the past few days after a string of incidents showed the public at crowded spaces and flaunting physical distancing. 

The best example came out of Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park where thousands reportedly flooded the park Saturday, something officials say could set the city back in its efforts to flatten curve. 

This also comes days after the province loosened some regulations in the first stage to reopen the Ontario’s economy.  

Most people have been physical distancing for over two months, but the pandemic has highlighted inequities within the country. 

Saturday’s incident prompted many to urge each other to stay home but others argue that isn’t so simple. Public pools, cooling rooms, malls and public libraries are all closed. Families living without air condition, in small spaces or on a fixed income, lost their resources to make it through the summer. 

Toronto Mayor John Tory says the city will learn lessons from Saturday’s incident. Dr. Etches reminds that if you do make use of parks and green spaces, you need to keep two metres between yourself and other people. You should also wear a cloth mask.  

Ontario is in the middle of a spike in cases after months of work to flatten the curve. Health Minister Christine Elliot attributes this to people flouting the rules over the Mother’s Day weekend.  

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