By Max Bowder: Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
August 23rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Bronte creek Provincial Park and local businesses in Burlington experienced low attendance over the weekend: was it the hot weather or concern over what appears to be a fourth Covid19 wave?
The usual crowd didn’t show up for the skateboard pad at Norton Park.
There were a handful of families in various parks celebrating birthdays and giving children a chance to get outside.
Attendance was very low compared to their capacity during the summer season. Residents appeared to be hesitant about going to public places feeling it is safer to stay isolated at home.
Many families that did decide to go out this weekend enjoyed activities such as playing on the playground, riding bikes and hiking.
Traffic at the splash pads was very low. Maybe everyone was out of town at a cottage?
These low turn outs are being contributed to Covid cases on the rise while entering the fourth wave of Covid, being stuck in stage 3 of reopening and low vaccination rates.
Parks in the Orchard area also had low attendance despite the park facilities getting infrastructure upgrades.
Residents preferred to stay home over the weekend; TV shows and board games for the family seemed to be what people were choosing to do..
Burlington has fallen short of its goal of having 90% of residents being vaccinated with 824,536 vaccine doses administered as of August 22nd.
The Covid19 new infection rate for the province on Sunday was 722 with two deaths. The Delta variant is clearly out there – those not vaccinated are at serious risk – and when they are at risk we are put at risk as well.
The Bronte Creek parking lot was close to barren.
Public health experts have been warning about a 4th covid wave for months saying that the Covid Delta Variant will be the driving force in increased cases.
The un-vaccinated are still the most at risk and are encouraged to get vaccinated.
“They call it the ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated,” said infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anna Banerji, told Global News earlier in the week.
