More than 60 people gathered in front of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit on Monday to protest against the extended lockdown orders which were announced on Friday.
Dr. Jim Chirico, North Bay Parry Sound District's chief medical officer, has been under scrutiny since he made the announcement Friday that the area was continuing in lockdown due to the COVID-19 variant of concern which was identified in the outbreak at the Lancelot apartments on Lakeshore Drive in North Bay.
"We want Dr. Chirico and the local Health Unit to know that the lack of transparency, and severity of the lockdown by comparison to all other regions - is a blatant abuse of power, and is further damaging our faltering economy and the personal health of our citizens," supporter Holly Mazerolle stated via Facebook.
"People are doing what they are doing and standing up for what they believe in, and everybody is entitled to their opinion," another supporter stated via Facebook at the event.
A number of local business owners attended the meeting and wanted to voice their displeasure about how the lockdown has damaged their businesses with some believing the lockdown is doing more harm than good within the community.
The peaceful protest began around 2:30 on Monday afternoon as participants picketed in front of the Health Unit facility and made their way down to North Bay City Hall on McIntyre Street.
North Bay Parry Sound is one of only three regions in the province that continue to be in the Stay-at-Home order until March 9.
