New Border Measures To Reduce The Spread Of COVID-19

The province is making changes at the borders for workers entering and returning to New Brunswick outside of the Atlantic Bubble.

Premier Blaine Higgs said it’s necessary because close to 95 per cent of COVID-19 cases are linked to travel or someone in close contact with a traveller who tested positive.

“Workers entering and particularly, in this case, workers returning to New Brunswick from outside the Atlantic bubble are now subject to modified self-isolation for 14 days with the option to return to regular public health measures by being voluntarily tested and having negative results and no symptoms,” Higgs said.

These new measures do not apply to local commuters, truck drivers and people travelling into New Brunswick under the authority of an operational plan approved by WorkSafeNB.

The new measures begin at midnight Thursday night.

Premier Higgs said the hard work to get control of the outbreak in Zone 5, the Campbellton region, is paying off.

He said additional enforcement officers are working in the area to ensure compliance with public health guidelines.

Staff from Public Safety, WorkSafeNB and the RCMP have visited 636 business and public spaces and interacted with 5,800 New Brunswickers in the Campbellton region.

“In total, 18 tickets were issued for violating the Emergency Measures Act and 81 orders and warnings were issued. A big part of their job is working to educate people about the requirements of the mandatory order. The handing out of a fine and the laying of a charge is usually the last resort,” Higgs said.

The premier was “pleased to report” the compliance rate is now at 99 per cent with no tickets issued on Wednesday.

New COVID-19 border measures / Zone 5 remains in Orange level / outbreak at adult residential facility / testing in Belledune / four new cases.https://t.co/pur3H37p9K

— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) October 29, 2020

A new travel restriction was also announced for Zone 5.

Travel into Restigouche County by residents of Listuguj First Nation and of Pointe-a-la-Croix, Quebec to access essential goods and services not available in their own community up to two times within a seven-day period has been restricted to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

People who pre-registered and were approved through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program can enter without self-isolation to attend school, to access child care, or to obtain essential goods and services.