With the weather warming up, B.C.’s top doctor is asking people to not assume that people they don’t know don’t have valid reasons to be where they are.

That’s as local leaders in several of the province’s tourist towns have been urging outsiders to stay away as they don’t have the healthcare resources to handle a potential large outbreak.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says there is no benefit in trying to block people from coming into certain areas of the province like the Shuswap – which like Tofino and the Sunshine Coast – is concerned about the influx of seasonal travellers.

“It’s not going to prevent the transmission of this virus necessarily. Having said that, what we want is everybody to lay low and stay home, but you do need essential services,” she said on Tuesday.

“There are legitimate reasons why people may need to check up on family and friends, so I would just say, be patient, don’t assume that people don’t have a legitimate reason to be somewhere.”

She’s urging people to be more thoughtful of their fellow human beings during these uncertain times.

“We need to not just assume because you see a licence plate or you see somebody you don’t recognize, that they don’t have a valid reason for doing what they are doing,” Henry added.

Health Minister Adrian Dix added that people have overwhelmingly been abiding by the advice and orders from Dr. Henry, and says many people may have a heightened awareness to people they thing aren’t following the rules. He says B.C. and Alberta continue discourage unnecessary travel between the two provinces.

“I absolutely agree that people in the Shuswap would have seen Alberta plates, but it’s very hard to be comparative about these things,” Dix said.

“And as well, be kind [and] understand that we sometimes don’t know other people’s circumstances and we have to be in these times, I think, extra vigilant about being generous in times that are difficult for everybody.”