#bced #bcpoli #COVID__19
I believe the vast majority of British Columbians believe Dr Bonnie Henry has done an excellent job managing our current health crisis. Her calm and thoughtful approach has allowed BC to keep case numbers small while gradually allowing life to go on.

While some will argue that we aren't testing enough, myself included, we haven't seen the uptick in hospital cases that one would be expected if we were missing significant numbers of cases in the community.

We have all bought full heartedly into the guidelines of maintaining your physical distance, trying to avoid too many people especially indoors, limit the number of people in your circles and when all of the above are impossible, wear a mask.

This has been sound advice but we need to be careful that we are not showing too much reverence to Dr Henry that we can't question when her recommendations run directly counter to her guidelines.

I've seen people on Twitter today being demonized for questioning Dr Henry's endorsement of the #bced return to school plan this September, despite it going counter to every guideline she has provided over the last several months.

Instead of encouraging social distancing, today's return to school plan ensures that kids will spend the majority of their day within 6 ft of their classmates. Instead of maintaining small groups, we are promoting learning groups of 60-120 kids.

Instead of spending time in open spaces with less faces, we are being asked to send our kids back to already crowded classrooms. And instead of wearing a mask when any of the above are impossible we are told they aren't necessary.

I think Dr Henry owes the parents of this province a clear and concise explanation, supported by facts and studies, like she has done several times this year, of why she feels all of her previous guidelines should now be disregarded.

Asking these questions shouldn't be demonized or discarded because "I trust Dr Henry", rather they should be encouraged as it aligns with the approach that Dr Henry has taken this year. Making balanced and informed decisions that are supported by evidence.

Doing anything less make us no better than those mindlessly following politicians in the US or questioning the science of the pandemic. We need to encourage discussions, not suppress it.
@bctf
@richardzussman
@Rob_Fleming
@jjhorgan @adriandix