SARNIA, Ont. — Officials say inclement weather and warnings around COVID-19 have led to smaller crowds at an annual tubing party on the river that separates Sarnia, Ont., from Port Huron, Mich.
The Canadian Coast Guard said approximately 30 Canadians and 300 to 400 Americans took part in the decades-old event Sunday, which is known as the Float Down.
Incident commander Kathleen Getty said that’s down from previous years where thousands of people take part.
Getty says the unsanctioned event is dangerous in the best of conditions, but most people seemed to heed warnings over COVID-19 and stormy weather on Sunday.
Officials have noted that the border between the two nations remains closed, and it could be hard to maintain physical distancing on the open water.
The RCMP warned that the consequences for crossing the marine border into Canada for optional or discretionary purposes such as touring, sightseeing and recreational fishing may result in fines of up to $750,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.