A local leader in the Central Coast Regional District says a request to cut off to non-essential travel has essentially been quashed.

Area ‘A’ director Daniel Bertrand says the regional district had that request in with the province, but says it doesn’t have the power to ask anymore since it’s no longer under a state of local emergency.

“I question the wisdom of the province and the Provincial Health Officer for not trying to quarantine this virus from places which haven’t yet been exposed, to our knowledge.”

Bertrand says people with summer homes in the Bella Bella and Bella Coola areas have been fleeing to those regions to try to avoid COVID-19.

He says the region doesn’t have the healthcare resources to look after residents and tourists during a pandemic in a worst-case scenario.

“I think that people are doing the best they can. Most folks are voluntarily complying with social distancing and trying to keep good spirits, but they’re very concerned that non-essential visitors will unintentionally bring COVID-19 into our region.”