City officials are trying to figure out how a single Quebec City gym that refused to obey blockade orders could have been linked to the infection of at least 580 people, including a 40-year-old man who died after hire COVID.
Health officials told CBC that the Mega Fitness Gym had breached at least three public health orders before it was forced to close on March 31, just as the city was placed under another closure amid rising rates of infection. The outbreak has prompted local health authorities to conduct an epidemiological investigation into how the virus was able to spread so quickly and whether the infections were caused by the deadly variant of the UK.
The owner of the gym, Daniel Morino, had protested the closure of companies forced by the government to reopen its facility amid a closure across the province last summer. According to CBC, the gym owner had shared posts on social media that minimized the severity of the virus and called into question the need to wear face masks.
In June, police showed up at Morino’s gym after receiving a complaint that he had organized a “grand reopening” at 5 a.m. of his family business. Morino told a local newspaper that after touring the business, police left without imposing any fines or ordering him to close the gym doors.
“I was not surprised by the presence of the police and I told them to do their job like mine did,” Marino told Le Journal de Québec, adding that he had taken the necessary precautions to protect his clients.
“My biggest fear is to fail … I have nothing to lose. If I am fined $ 50,000, I will add them to my debts. Either way, it won’t make a difference as I will go bankrupt. I have invested 25 years of my life in this business and I don’t want to stop working without doing anything. I would regret it my whole life. I’m not the savior of the people, but I’m just trying to save my business. “
Although Marino said he had adhered to social distancing measures after challenging the blockade warrants, the Quebec City director of public health said that according to the latest inspection, it was clear that the gym had not taken with proper safety precautions.
According to the director’s statement, which was reported by CTV, gym attendees were not monitored for symptoms, employees were not wearing adequate personal protective equipment and clients were not physically distanced from each other.
Morino finally closed the doors of the Mega Fitness Gym to the public on March 31st. But by this time, it was too late. With hundreds infected, a dead gym client and more likely to fall victim, the outbreak has become one of Canada’s biggest events.
Addressing Quebec City’s latest blockade amid Canada’s backward vaccination rates and COVID’s startling third wave, Mayor Régis Labeaume chose a few words aimed directly at Dan Marino.
“Bravo, champion,” he said. “Everyone has nice biceps, but now people are sick.”