A Canadian couple was accused of raping coronavirus after they allegedly flew from Vancouver to a rural area with a population of less than 125 people to be vaccinated.
On January 21, the couple, identified as Rodney and Ekaterina Baker, went to a COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinic in Beaver Creek, Yukon, although they are not from the area, which is close to the Alaskan border, Minister of Community Services for Yukon, John Streicker said in a statement to CBS News.
One had a British Columbia health card and the other, an Ontario health card, according to the statement.
After their visit to Beaver Creek, where the White River First Nation (WRFN) community is located, Yukon Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA) officers accompanied the couple.
The authorities determined that the Bakers “violated the territory’s self-isolation requirements and did not comply with the statements they provided upon entering the territory,” says the Streicker statement.
Each of them was accused of not being isolated for 14 days after entering the territory and of “not having behaved in a manner consistent with the statement provided upon entering the territory”.
In his statement, Streicker said he was “outraged by this selfish behavior” and that he found it “disturbing that people would choose to put other Canadians at risk in this way”.
“Reports claim that these individuals were misleading and violated emergency measures for their own benefit, which is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during a public health crisis,” continued Streicker.
The Territorial Civil Emergency Measures Act includes several guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19, including self-isolation from outside visitors. The fine for each violation of the order is $ 500.
However, Bakers were fined $ 1,150 each, WRFN chief executive Sid C. Vander Meer told CBS News in an email.
In a statement on Saturday, WRFN said the couple’s punishment was “mild” and called for a tougher sentence.
“These individuals made false statements to Yukon government officials about their intentions within the territory and voluntarily violated isolation orders,” said the WRFN in the statement. “WRFN is particularly concerned about the insensitive nature of these actions taken by individuals, as they were a blatant disregard for the rules that keep our community safe during this unprecedented global pandemic.”
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of individuals who put our elderly and vulnerable people at risk of skipping the line for selfish purposes,” said WRFN chief Angela Demit in a statement.
“While we understand that many want to be vaccinated immediately, it is not appropriate to circumvent the established rules and approach our community in this way,” the statement continued. “WRFN was selected for vaccines because of our remoteness, elderly and high-risk population, as well as limited access to healthcare.”
In an emailed statement 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 left the company without receiving any kind of compensation,” the statement said.
“Great Canadian’s board and management team do not tolerate actions that go against the company’s core goals and values,” continues the statement.
The company “strictly follows all guidelines and guidelines issued by public health authorities” and “any actions that are contrary to the company’s core values, that do not comply with the GCGC’s strict travel compliance policies, and ensure that the company and their employees follow all health guidelines and guidelines, they will not be tolerated ”, says the statement.