New Brunswick Unveils Plan to Re-open Province

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New Brunswick Unveils Plan to Re-open Province

At a press conference in Fredericton on Thursday, May 27, 2021, Premier Blaine Higgs, Minister of Health Dorothy Shephard, and Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell announced guidelines  outlining the path toward the Green level of the COVID-19 recovery plan.

“Green is coming and it is closer than we imagined,” said Minister Shephard. “We are in this position thanks to the hard work being done across our province to roll out vaccines quickly and efficiently.”

The plan includes three phases to gradually loosen restrictions, with target dates based on anticipated vaccination rates. The first phase is expected to come into effect on June 7, as long as at least 75 per cent of the population aged 12 and older have received their first dose of a vaccine.

“As we move forward on the path to the Green level, we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of New Brunswickers,” said Premier Higgs. “If we see a rise in cases and hospitalizations, or if we do not reach our vaccination goals, we will have to delay our target dates.”

In this phase, the guidelines will include the following:

No isolation or testing will be required for those travelling to New Brunswick from Atlantic Canada and the Avignon and Témiscouata regions of Quebec, with the exception of Nova Scotia.

Compassionate travel will be permitted with isolation and testing requirements in place.

Cross border commuters and truck drivers will no longer be subject to testing and isolation requirements.

Other workers, including rotational workers, travelling outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Avignon and Témiscouata will be required to isolate and take a COVID-19 test between days five and seven before they can discontinue isolation, unless they have an existing work-isolation plan.

Contact with all family and friends will be permitted and restrictions will be loosened for indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Organized sporting activities will be permitted, but restricted to teams based in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Avignon and Témiscouata.

Faith gatherings can take place with a maximum 50 per cent venue capacity and with the choir at least four metres from the congregation.

All other restrictions will remain in place, including the requirement for travel registration and the use of masks, based on a health zone’s alert level.

The second phase is expected to come into effect on Canada Day, July 1, as long as 75 per cent of New Brunswickers 12 and older have received their first dose of a vaccine; 20 per cent of New Brunswickers 65 and older have received their second dose; hospitalizations remain low; and all health zones remain at the Yellow alert level.

In this phase, the guidelines will include the following:

Travel registration will no longer be required for those in the Atlantic provinces, including Nova Scotia, or in Avignon and Témiscouata.

Canadian travellers, as well as travellers from Maine, who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, will be permitted into the province without needing to isolate.

Canadian travellers, as well as travellers from Maine, who have not been vaccinated will be permitted to enter the province but will be subject to testing and isolation requirements.

Businesses including restaurants, gyms and salons will be permitted to operate at regular capacity as long as they maintain a contact list of clients.

Games and sporting competitions with teams based outside of Atlantic Canada will be permitted, subject to travel requirements.

Beginning July 1, additional health and safety guidelines developed to respond to the pandemic will be relaxed for early learning and child-care facilities, with a full return to normal operations anticipated by Aug. 1. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will contact operators in the coming weeks to provide more information and to organize question and answer sessions.
Travel registration will still be required for travel outside of the Atlantic bubble, Avignon or Témiscouata, and the use of masks will still be required based on a health zone’s alert level.

The third phase is expected to come into effect on New Brunswick Day, Aug. 2, as long as 75 per cent of New Brunswickers 12 and older have received their second dose of a vaccine. At this time the province will move to the Green level, the mandatory order will end and all restrictions will be lifted.

 

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Video Upload Date: May 28, 2021

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