At a press conference in Fredericton on Friday, April 23, 2021, Premier Blaine Higgs and Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell announced new travel restrictions for the province to combat the spread of COVID-19. New self-isolation requirements for leisure and non-essential travellers returning to New Brunswick, as well as people moving to the province and business travellers, will go into effect on Saturday, April 24 at 11:59pm. 

Anyone returning to the province from leisure travel, as well as individuals moving to New Brunswick and business travellers who are not rotational workers, truck drivers or regular cross-border commuters, will be required to self-isolate for at least seven days in a designated isolation hotel at their own expense. The approximate cost of isolation at one of these hotels runs at about $200 per day. Isolating individuals will be required to take a COVID-19 test on day five of their self-isolation, and once they get a negative result, they may complete their 14-day self-isolation at home, as long as no other people are in the household. Test results will likely be available on day seven of isolation. They will be required to take a second test on day 10 of their isolation.

“Until the majority of us have been vaccinated, unnecessary travel is simply too risky,” said Dr. Russell. “If you do not have to travel, you should stay home. If you decide to take this risk against public health guidance and advice, we need to be sure that you are not putting the health of other New Brunswickers in jeopardy.”

Upon their arrival in New Brunswick, leisure travellers must either drive themselves or use a taxi. No family members or friends can pick them up, and no carpools are permitted. These rules apply to all individuals travelling for leisure, even if they have been vaccinated.

“We are seeing what is happening in Ontario right now, where health-care professionals are being forced to make heartbreaking choices about who receives care and who doesn’t,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “We can’t let that happen here.”