Vancouverites burst into sunny outdoor spaces as gathering rules eased

People in Vancouver burst into public spaces on Saturday, celebratingnew rules that allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people after a dark and isolating pandemic winter.

Provincial healthofficials amended B.C.'s public health orders on Thursday, after four months of strict restrictions that banned social gatherings of all kinds.

On an unseasonably warm Saturday in March, buskers playedon benches andgroups gathered onlocal beaches in a scene reminiscent of summer.

Jill Fryer, sitting on the sand with a friend, said finally being able to gather outdoors feels "extremely freeing."

"It's nice to feel that there's a sense of normalcy in life again and that we can be around the people we love," she said.

Shelly Stewart said the mood outdoors was "joyful and heartwarming."

"Everybody's feeling the same way," she said. Stewart is looking forward to months of more good weather, vaccines, friendshipand family connections.

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Near Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach, a group held a parade to mark the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, donning costumes, blasting music and dancing.

"We just want to spread some love and some good will to everybody who struggled through this past year. It's time that we all come together to stay safe, all stay as socially distanced as possible, and do our best," said a man dancingunder a large beach umbrella to keep his distance from others.

Another parader, who called himself "the party scientist," saidthe group hopes to improve people's mental health with the celebration as he encouragedthose around him to maintain six feet of distance from each other.

Vancouverites celebrate restrictions on outdoor gatherings

4 years ago

Duration 0:39

A group of people danced in the streets after B.C.'s provincial health officer allowed gatherings of 10 people outside

Some health experts worry that people will let their guard down because of the excitement from loosening restrictions and won't be as cautious about minimizing the risk of transmission. They fear the newly found freedom could be taken away if cases rise.

"We have to have some enthusiasm and optimism but it has to be measured and implemented in a way that is still following the guidelines," saidDr.Birinder Narang, a family physician.

Under the new rules, people still need to maintain physical distancing outdoors and gatherings should only include the same 10 people.

"If we start running before we walk, then there's the potential of setting us further back," said Narang.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in B.C. has been slowly rising over the past few weeks and is now sitting at more than 5,000.

Soaking in the sunshine, Vancouver resident Michelle Wake said she hopes people will follow the new rules to avoid a spike of new cases.

"We've just got toget through a few more months, or I hate to say it, the rest of the year and get to those vaccines, because it's the only way we're going to get out of this," she said.