Editor:
This is a very difficult time for the tourism industry, and it is so great to see action happening to flatten the curve. However, let's consider the following:
As far a we know, you cannot get COVID-19 from a tree.
You can, however, get it from a surface that someone else, who may not show symptoms, has touched.
It's really easy to not show symptoms, all you have to do is not cough for a few minutes when you greet someone. Closing off parks will do nothing to stop people from fleeing their virus infected cities to stay in our hotels, bed and breakfasts, and second homes.
Our economy is going to be really depressed after this, that's unavoidable. However continuing to allow for tourism, whether it's a hotel, bed and breakfast, or a plane flight, will only make things worse.
If you run a bed and breakfast, or hotel, please consider this. If you are wealthy enough to get on a plane or go to a second home during this time, please consider this.
Open spaces and parks are not spreading the virus, people traveling are.
Closing Banff just means that visitors, instead of going out in nature, will just hang around Canmore breathing on everything.
It's times like these when the Banff/Canmore separation is really dysfunctional.
Naia Noyes-West,
Canmore
