It can be confusing trying to stay up to date on the “rules” about how to conduct ourselves during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Not only are statements being issued simultaneously by federal, provincial and municipal governments, but also from numerous departments, ministries and agencies of each.
“Rules” is used in quotation marks because some are strict laws with serious legal consequences – the federal Quarantine Act, for example, which imposes 14 days isolation on Canadians returning from the U.S. or abroad.
Other “rules” are strong recommendations for good reasons, but there’s currently no legislative authority to enforce them – preventing people from travelling to other B.C. communities, for example.
The confusion is most obvious when members of the public take it upon themselves to “enforce the rules” through vigilante action or shaming others on social media. Continue reading “Laws, orders, rules and guidance – requirements in Covid pandemic can be confusing”