Young people are not immune to the COVID-19 virus, Victoria police warned this weekend after being called to a noise complaint at a house party in Esquimalt.
Officers are reminding people that social and physical distancing is key to slowing the progress of the disease and preventing an overwhelmed health system.
Police spokesman Bowen Osoko said officers told people at the party to go home. Even when the officers explained the dangers of gathering during the pandemic, some of the party-goers were undeterred, telling police they were "immune" to the virus.
No one was arrested, Osoko said.
On Sunday morning, Oak Bay resident Laurie Anne Faulkner posted pictures on Facebook of discarded beer cans and cigarette butts on the beach near her house.
"Thanks to the partiers on the beach last night.... keeping it safe for everyone," Faulkner wrote. "We love cleaning up your germ-infested garbage to keep the kids and animals safe every morning. You rock!"
Some commenters called for police-enforced distancing.
On Saturday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province is exploring options for delivering public health messages to young people who may feel they are not at risk of contracting the disease.
While most people in B.C. who have tested positive for COVID-19 are older, there is a cluster of people in the 30s and 40s — mostly health workers in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€” who are infected.
Teenagers and people in their 20s have also tested positive for COVID-19.
Henry has banned gatherings of more than 50 people. On Saturday, she ordered all salons, spas and tattoo parlours to close. Restaurants can only serve take-out food in B.C. and playgrounds are now closed.
For more information on social and physical distancing, .
