Pointing fingers online

It didn’t take long for word to spread about the Caul’s case, and the finger-pointing and blame came nearly just as swift.

Local Facebook groups dedicated to sharing COVID-19 information became a hub for rumour and conjecture, as did the comment sections of news articles.

“It’s very emotional. I get very angry because of it because I’m getting a lot of anger,” said Taplin.

In Buchans, a community in central Newfoundland, Shannon Fleming’s grieving boyfriend Shannon Harris received a phone call from a friend at a local grocery store.

Shannon Harris says he is devastated over the premature loss of his girlfriend, Shannon Fleming of St. John’s. (Submitted by Shannon Harris) Post image on Pinterest: Shannon Harris says he is devastated over the premature loss of his girlfriend, Shannon Fleming of St. John’s. (Submitted by Shannon Harris)

Shannon Harris says he is devastated over the premature loss of his girlfriend, Shannon Fleming of St. John’s. (Submitted by Shannon Harris)

“[He said] ‘I'm going to have to tell you you can’t come to the store,’” Harris said.

“He basically said that they got phone calls at the store about this release from Caul’s.”

That’s how Harris first learned he could have contracted the virus, and said no one from the Fleming family was ever directly contacted by the funeral home.

He quickly realized he had been in contact with his children and their mother as well as his grandmother since returning from his girlfriend’s wake and funeral.

Harris said armchair COVID-19 detectives on social media have become just as infectious as the virus itself.

“Instead of asking me first they all went on the [offensive] for themselves,” he said. “Not knowing the full story before you make somebody out to look like a potential threat.”

Having lost his grandfather and great-uncle prior to Fleming’s death, Harris said the last two months have been hell. It’s being prolonged by COVID-19 and its dark cloud hanging over his final goodbye for his girlfriend.

“I’m lost. It’s psychological torture.”

Father Paul Lundrigan is the parish priest of Holy Trinity, St. Agnes and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic churches. (Submitted by Paul Lundrigan) Post image on Pinterest: Father Paul Lundrigan is the parish priest of Holy Trinity, St. Agnes and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic churches. (Submitted by Paul Lundrigan)

Father Paul Lundrigan is the parish priest of Holy Trinity, St. Agnes and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic churches. (Submitted by Paul Lundrigan)

Taplin says she still feels like there’s a target on her back.

“I have neighbours watching me,” she said. “They’re watching everything I’m doing. It is horrible.”

Taplin said she had the police twice in her driveway — once because she was cleaning garbage out of her vehicle ahead of collection day. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and RCMP have been tasked with following up on tips of people failing to abide by government rules, like self-isolation.

On March 25, provincial officials ordered everyone who attended the two services to stay at home until April 1.

That included Father Paul Lundrigan, the priest who presided over Tobin’s funeral service. He said many people had been doing their best to avoid handshakes and were sitting apart in the pews.

Lundrigan has come out of his self-isolation period unscathed, and Harris, Williams and Taplin have all tested negative.

Others have not been so lucky.

Five of Fleming’s elderly relatives have gotten sick, including her mother. Two were hospitalized.

However, Williams said she knows of about 20 friends who attended the home who have become infected. The majority have symptoms including a dry, scratchy throat and a cough. However, some symptoms are more severe.

Taplin said the Fleming family had offered to give public health officials the book of names from Shannon Fleming’s wake in hopes of speeding up contact tracing but were told no.