Roughly 1,000 people have taken to the streets out front of Kelowna General Hospital on Wednesday afternoon in protest of provincial health measures regarding COVID-19, specifically the recently announced vaccine card program.
The event began around 1 p.m. The large and aggressive crowd has taken over most sidewalks surrounding the hospital and several cars are driving by blaring their horns. Throughout the event, people were chanting “freedom.”
At one point, a group of nurses counter-protested the rally, locking arms at the hospital’s entrance and reiterating that they were not part of the crowd and that they didn’t support the protest.
There’s gotta be at least 1,000 people here, if not more pic.twitter.com/dZeAl5MvDy
— Aaron (@aaron_hemens) September 1, 2021
KGH nurses came out to say they didn’t support the protest. @KelownaCapNews pic.twitter.com/WlrrNrzZzz
— twila m amato (@twilamam) September 1, 2021
Premier John Horgan and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the new measures on Aug. 30, citing statistics that show 90 per cent of new coronavirus cases are in people who haven’t been fully vaccinated.
The vaccine card comes into effect with one dose being required for entry into many non-essential businesses including indoor ticketed events, bars and restaurants and fitness centres as of Sept. 13. As of Oct. 24, patrons will be required to be fully vaccinated.
Happening right in front of Kelowna General Hospital. Residents came out in droves demanding no to vaccine passports. @KelownaCapNews pic.twitter.com/zKnAhmYXUR
— twila m amato (@twilamam) September 1, 2021
READ MORE: Call police on COVID-19 vaccination card refusers, B.C.’s John Horgan says
READ MORE: Jab appointments triple after B.C. vaccine card announced
@michaelrdrguezmichael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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Nurses step outside for a smoke break, as roughly 1,000 people protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the Kelowna General Hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Kelowna General Hospital nurses stand outside the hospital with locked arms, opposing a group of roughly 1,000 people who protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Health care workers observe the crowd from above, as roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Health care workers in disbelief observe the crowd from above, as roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
A protester flashes a sign outside of the Kelowna General Hospital’s entrance, just one of roughly 1,000 people who gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Health care workers watch as roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
A handful of counter-protestors were also in attendance, as roughly 1,000 people gathered and protested COVID-19 health measures outside of the hospital on Sept. 1. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
