Vancouver protesters call coronavirus fake news and say distancing rule should be defied, appalling health authorities

British Columbia health minister Adrian Dix says ‘self-promoters’ with ‘marginal views’ are trying to exploit suffering amid pandemic. Images on social media show about 15 people taking part in rally despite ban on people belonging to different households mingling. — SCMP

Authorities in British Columbia have decried a Vancouver protest that depicted Covid-19 as “fake news” and called for the defiance of physical distancing rules, with the provincial health minister blasting “self-promoters” for exploiting the suffering of others.

Social media photos and videos showed about 15 people taking part in Sunday’s protest, gathering at City Hall in spite of provincial health orders banning people from different households mingling closer than two metres apart. The protesters then walked towards downtown Vancouver.