West Vancouver woman fined $6,900 after breaking quarantine, visiting Lions Gate Hospital

Mar 10 2021, 8:42 pm

A woman in West Vancouver was issued nearly $7,000 in fines after breaking COVID-19 quarantine protocols.

The West Vancouver Police Department (WVPD) was notified of the incident on March 4 at approximately 10:25 pm.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says that the 59-year-old entered Canada earlier that day and had breached Canada’s quarantine requirements. In addition to not having proof of a negative COVID-19 test, she reportedly visited a hospital shortly after entering Canada.

“The PHAC alleged that the woman had not provided an adequate negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, and had visited someone at Lions Gate Hospital shortly after,” says police in a statement.

Police officers attended the woman’s residence one day later and found her as she was returning from a walk. The woman claimed that she was “exempt from the required quarantine,” but didn’t have any documents to prove it.

She was issued two violation tickets: one as a result of the allegations made by the PHAC and another for breaching COVID-19 quarantine protocols as observed by the police officer. The two fines were worth $3,450 each, totalling $6,900.

Constable Kevin Goodmurphy, WVPD spokesperson, says that “this is a stark reminder that we all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

“There are strict government guidelines that specify how a person must quarantine upon entry to Canada, which includes a requirement to travel directly to their address of quarantine and to remain there for 14 days.”

At the start of February, British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety announced that over half a million dollars in fines had been issued since August. According to ICBC, as of mid-February, less than 6% of those fines had been paid.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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