Thread by @joannachiu

When Dr Bonnie Henry picked up shoes named after her, and had her photo taken at a painting in her honour, celebration of Western Canada “flattening the curve” was at a high.

Now things have changed and we're trying to avoid "explosive" growth in #COVID19 thestar.com/news/canada/20…

I noticed people were getting tense and nervous a few weeks ago, as others seemed to drop their guards and go out to socialize and hit the gym.

In the last week, officials in B.C. reported #COVID19 cases have tripled while Alberta saw a 50% increase. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

In Calgary, a cluster of fitness studios closed after an outbreak from a spin workout at a makeshift basement studio.

“I think this made it hit home for people, who hadn’t personally known someone with #COVID-19 before." thestar.com/news/canada/20…

A studio owner says he doesn't blame his staff members for the outbreak. “I can imagine it might take a couple minutes to think that you’re not comfortable ...

“Maybe that’s the lesson here. That we shouldn’t stay in places where we feel uncomfortable." thestar.com/news/canada/20…

I went to #Kelowna earlier this month, and very few people were wearing a mask.

There was a rooftop pool party happening on top of a boutique hotel.

Some of the spike in #COVID19 cases came from parties at Kelowna hotels in the popular tourist area. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

This spike in cases happened a month after BC and Alberta re-opened many businesses.

@alex_mckeen spoke with health experts on what this means.

"It’s just mathematically true that as more people leave their homes there are going to be more cases." thestar.com/news/canada/20…

A public health officer said some youth attending indoor parties and not following proper measures might be doing so because the ongoing relaxing of #COVID19 restrictions has sent a signal that they can let their guard down. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

The good news? The uptick in cases does not make a full-blown second wave inevitable. Experts say Western Canada's response will be critical in helping the rest of the country learn how to navigate case increases as society re-opens. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @alex_mckeen #COVID19

https://twitter.com/torontostar/status/1285576027444596737?s=21

https://t.co/GoE27jj9VT

The job of a contact tracer is also getting a lot harder. Public health officials said people have been recently socializing with as many as 20 or 30 different people now, compared to fewer than five at the height of the coronavirus restrictions. thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19

#Breaking "Today is the day to re-commit to stop the spread (of #COVID19)" says B.C. Health Minister @adriandix, as the province reports 34 new cases as the curve is heading the "wrong way" upwards. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #bcpoli

"People are traveling to the interior ... and meeting up with new people ... and what's happened is that people have been coming in to the new environments with #COVID19," says public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #bcpoli #cdnpoli

"We need everyone to be aware that these are risky times .. and use our travel manners and stick to the basics we know work," says Dr. Bonnie Henry. thestar.com/news/canada/20…