“We are deeply concerned about the actions of individuals who put our elders and vulnerable people at risk of jumping the line for selfish purposes,” said a community leader.
The CEO of a casino company and his wife are facing charges after allegedly chartering a plane to a remote indigenous community in Canada, breaking isolation requirements and pretending to be members of the vulnerable population to receive the coronavirus vaccine last week.
Rodney Baker, 55, and Ekaterina Baker, 32, were charged on January 21 under the Yukon Civil Emergency Measures Act for not being isolated for 14 days after entering the territory and for not behaving in a manner consistent with the statement provided at the entrance, in accordance with court documents provided to BuzzFeed News. Both face fines of $ 575 for each charge
Until Sunday, Rodney was the president and CEO of Great Canadian Gaming, where he earned millions in compensation. The company announced in a statement on Monday that he “was no longer affiliated in any way with Great Canadian and left the company without receiving any compensation”. Ekaterina is an actress with credits in Chick Fight and the Mel Gibson film Fat man. His manager did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News’s request for comment on Tuesday.
@Yukon_news decided to name the two individuals who were accused of breaking self-isolation to obtain the Modern vaccine in Beaver Creek. CBC North and @xjackiehong released the first story on Friday. https://t.co/LYbdb3ynzp
The couple was first identified by Yukon News, who reported on Monday that the Bakers lied to employees at a mobile vaccine clinic in Beaver Creek, saying they worked at a local motel in order to get the COVID- vaccine. 19.
Beaver Creek is an isolated community near the Alaskan border, home to less than 125 people, many of whom are members of the White River First Nation. Local media reported that the couple first traveled to the city of Whitehorse before taking a chartered plane to Beaver Creek, more than 320 km away.
In Canada, vaccines are currently being prioritized for people living in remote and isolated indigenous communities, along with health professionals and residents and employees of long-term care facilities. According to the Yukon government’s vaccination plan, consultations are open to all residents of Beaver Creek aged 18 and over.
White River First Nation called for more serious penalties against the Bakers, calling their actions “a blatant disregard for the rules” designed to keep their vulnerable community safe during the 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 the country’s chief, Angela Demit, in a statement on Monday. “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.”
Demit added that Beaver Creek was selected to be given priority for vaccines because of its remote location, elderly, high-risk population and limited access to health care.
Ekaterina Baker’s Instagram was filled with posts about staying at home, quarantining and keeping communities safe. I am concerned that it seems vindictive, rather than journalistic, to share this, but it suggests that the Bakers knew the implications of their actions.
After receiving a dose of the vaccine, the couple asked if they could “catch a ride to the airport”, a request that workers refused because they were busy vaccinating community members, Yukon Community Services Minister John Streicker said in a video clip shared by CBC News.
CEMA officials, who were briefed on the couple’s behavior, responded to Whitehorse Airport, where they found the Bakers boarding a flight to leave northwest territory.
“[Officials] were able to confirm that the couple had violated the territory’s self-isolation requirements and were not complying with the statements provided upon entering the territory, “said Streicker in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News.” I am outraged by this selfish behavior and find it disturbing that people choose to put other Canadians at risk in this way. “
He said the incident was reported to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The law enforcement agency told BuzzFeed News that it was investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, British Columbia – where the Bakers actually live – is on the verge of another peak at COVID-19. British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the couple should be “embarrassed” for putting the small Beaver Creek community at risk.
“I am very sad and disappointed that people do this, but I am also excited to know that the vast majority of people in Canada and BC do not think that way and I know that the approach we take to protect those who are most vulnerable is the one who they support, “said Henry.