Kelowna bylaw officers have been busy over the past two weeks responding to complaints about people not following the advice of the provincial health officer.
Bylaw has fielded more than 200 calls since March 30, when it began implementing orders from Dr. Bonnie Henry allowing its officers to support enforcement of business closures and gatherings.
Lance Kayfish the citysa国际传媒檚 risk manager said those complaints have ranged from people gathering on their driveways and in parks to complaints about driving ranges and other businesses still being open.
sa国际传媒淏ut the majority of them, 126 as of my last count, have been about people, not social distancing,sa国际传媒� said Kayfish.
Kayfish said officers are finding there is some confusion between the orders given by Dr. Henry and her advice. He said the closures of certain businesses, such as hairdressers and bars, is an order while maintaining a two-metre distance is not.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e educating people about those differences but at the same time making it very clear in all of our communications and interactions wesa国际传媒檙e strongly supporting the recommendations of the provincial health officer that people do maintain social distancing,sa国际传媒� said Kayfish.
In parks and other areas, people tend to flock to as the weather gets warmer, bylaw officers are patrolling and educating people about physical distancing.
sa国际传媒淭he majority of people are already complying, but theysa国际传媒檝e talked to a few people playing tennis or not keeping their distance,sa国际传媒� said the citysa国际传媒檚 communications manager Tom Wilson.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 no plan currently to close parks.sa国际传媒�
While bylaw officers cannot issue fines based on Henrysa国际传媒檚 orders, they can give formal warnings.
In the event of ongoing noncompliance, bylaw has been directed to contact Interior Health.
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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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