N.B. To Loosen More Restrictions Friday

New Brunswick’s premier says the province will move ahead to the next phase of its COVID-19 recovery plan on Friday.

The further loosening of restrictions was delayed by one week due to an outbreak of cases in the Campbellton region.

But Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday they decided the rest of the province is ready to move to the next phase of the “yellow level”.

“Outdoor gatherings of 50 people or fewer will be allowed with physical distancing. Indoor religious services of 50 people or fewer will also be permitted as long as physical distancing is respected,” said Higgs.

The following businesses will also be allowed to reopen as long as they have an operational plan in place:

• swimming pools, saunas and waterparks (gathering limit of 50 people per separate activity area)
• gyms, yoga and dance studios
• rinks and indoor recreational facilities (gathering limit of 50 people per separate activity area, and gathering limit of 50 spectators)
• pool halls and bowling alleys

Higgs said residents of long-term care facilities will also be able to have outdoor visits with up to two visitors at once.

“We recognize that not every facility will be able to do this, but we want to be able to give them the option to do so if they can. For the visits to take place, there must be sufficient outdoor space to allow physical distancing of two metres or six feet from the resident and this distance must be maintained throughout the visit,” he said.

If all goes well, said Higgs, controlled indoor visitations in hospitals, nursing homes, special care homes and adult residential facilities will begin on June 19.

Also on Friday, elective surgeries and other non-emergency health-care services will increase, and low-contact team sports will be permitted.

Starting on June 19, Canadian residents owning property in New Brunswick and those with immediate family in the province will be allowed to enter as long as they self-isolate for 14 days.

The province said the reopening of casinos, amusement centres, bingo halls, arcades, cinemas, bars (without seating), trade shows and conferences, large live performance venues and larger public gatherings will be determined once more evidence is available on its success in managing a resurgence of the virus.

Higgs said, for now, the Campbellton region will remain in the “orange level” as it continues to deal with the ongoing outbreak.

“I understand that it is frustrating to those who live and work in the Restigouche region, but taking the proper precautions the short term will have positive long-term impacts in our province,” he said.

Higgs said it is also important to realize this may not be the only time a region reverts back a level as they work to determine the extent of any future outbreaks.