The region’s chief health official has recommended anyone who attended the car rally in Wasaga Beach this past weekend should be self-monitoring and watching closely for symptoms of COVID-19.
Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said anyone associated should also seek COVID testing if they start noticing any symptoms of the coronavirus.
“It was certainly worrisome and disturbing for me that an event like that would end up happening,” said Gardner during a media briefing Sept. 29. “Any transmission … could show up widespread. It could go beyond Simcoe-Muskoka depending on where people had come from.”
Police called the event an "unsanctioned car takeover."
Huronia West OPP was aware the rally might take place and stepped up police presence in the waterfront town on the weekend, borrowing from nearby police forces to bolster the ranks.
On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 26, police closed all roads into Wasaga Beach, not allowing anyone into town without proof they lived there. A heavy police presence remained for Sunday.
OPP officers issued 172 provincial offences notices during the event, and 11 offence notices directly related to gathering rules laid out in the Reopening Ontario Act.
“I’m gratified to hear there was enforcement and police took this very seriously,” said Gardner. “We do need to enforce gathering limits to safeguard the population.”
When asked about how the health unit would handle contact tracing should a case pop up that is linked to the event, the doctor said it would be “very challenging.”
“It might very well be one of those instances where we go public and we say ‘this venue, this time, anyone who was there should self-monitor and if you develop symptoms get assessed,’” said Gardner. “People who were associated with that event should, in fact, be self-monitoring and if they develop symptoms, self isolate and seek assessment.”
Wasaga Beach Mayor Nina Bifolchi also released a statement condemning the car rally, and action she took before the rally took place and again afterwards.
“It was in no way sanctioned by the municipality,” Bifolchi said in a media release sent out by the town. “It is very frustrating that the organizers behind this activity snubbed their noses at the municipality and law enforcement.”
The release stated the municipality heard of the rally two weeks ago and informed police at that time.
