The New Brunswick government says it could lift all COVID-19 health restrictions as quickly as New Brunswick Day on Aug 2.
At a media briefing Thursday, Premier Blaine Higgs released the plan on the advice of Public Health with Dr. Jennifer Russell and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.
While the province’s top doctor said this plan wouldn’t put the province at the finish line of the pandemic, it will bring us closer to green.
“We get that everybody is tired,” said Russell. “We need to do something to revive us to continue what we need to do [to get us to green].”
“With renewed vigour, we can keep on our path,” she said.
Russell says New Brunswick’s rates of hospitalization and deaths are lower compared to other jurisdictions.
Earlier on Thursday, Prince Edward Island released its reopening plan, which included an Atlantic bubble opening date of June 27.
P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says those with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be permitted without self-isolating.
King told a media briefing he has met with other Atlantic premiers and expects similar dates across the board.
When at least 75 per cent of NBers have been vaccinated fully, Russell says the province will have the best protection against COVID-19.
“Our health care system will be able to manage the cases that occur beyond that point, which has always been our objective,” said Russell.
Minister Shephard says it has been a long and challenging road for New Brunswickers.
“We are finally in a position to talk about reopening,” said Shephard.
If New Brunswick has 75 per cent of its population vaccinated, keeps cases low and all zones are under yellow, here is what New Brunswickers can expect for a reopening plan:
June 7
• Isolation won’t be required for those travelling to New Brunswick from within Atlantic Canada, except for Nova Scotia. But travellers will still have to pre-register in advance.
• Compassionate travel for those outside Atlantic Canada will be permitted to enter the province.
• Cross-border commuters, including truck drivers, won’t have to self-isolate or undergo rigorous testing.
• Other travellers from outside Atlantic Canada will still have to isolate. This includes whole families unless the individual who travelled is isolating alone.
• Informal indoor gatherings with fewer than 20 people will be allowed.
• Formal indoor gatherings with fewer than 50 are permitted with physical distancing.
• Sports teams will be allowed to hold games and practices.
• Faith gatherings will be allowed to have 50 per cent capacity, but aspects like choirs will need to be distanced away from the congregation.
July 1
• Travel registration will not be a requirement for travellers from outside of Atlantic Canada.
• Canadian travellers who have been fully vaccinated, including travellers from Maine, can enter New Brunswick without going through self-isolation.
• Those who haven’t been vaccinated can enter New Brunswick, but they will have to self-isolate.
• National travellers won’t have to isolate and there will no longer be a need for designated isolation hotels.
• Businesses can operate at regular capacity as long as they continue with contact tracing. Masks are still required if not customers are not eating or drinking.
Those changes are pending federal regulations.
Aug 1
• Early learning and childcare facilities could make a full return to operations.
Aug 2
• If COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cases remain stagnant, New Brunswick will be considered at the green level.
• The emergency order will end and all restrictions, including mask-wearing, will be lifted.
Minister Shephard felt it was very exciting to talk about a reopening plan.
She says the province is in this position thanks to a lot of hard work being done across our province, as well as those who are getting vaccinated.
“While better days are coming, we must continue to follow the advice of Public Health,” said Shepherd.
Premier Higgs says today is a path forward past the pandemic and is something many New Brunswickers have been looking forward to.
“I know this news comes as a huge relief for many of us who have been separated from our loved ones,” said Higgs.
“Everything we have given up has been to prevent our number of deaths from rising.”
While the pandemic has taken its toll, Higgs says New Brunswickers should all agree that the region is “very blessed,” adding that residents around the world “are envious.”
“We are on the cusp of a very exciting moment,” said Higgs.
This announcement comes less than a day after health officials expanded vaccine eligibility to New Brunswickers aged 12 and older.
Until we reach the province’s target dates, Higgs said nothing changes yet and New Brunswickers must continue following current Public Health rules, including the Steady 15.
He said the health and safety of New Brunswickers is a top priority and those dates can be delayed if officials find it necessary.
“We need to do this right,” said Higgs. “We can’t lose our momentum.”
Higgs says after we reach the end of the province’s mandatory emergency order, “we can all look forward to a bright future and reinventing New Brunswick like never before.”
Meanwhile, New Brunswick reported nine new cases of COVID-19 today, including five in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and three in Zone 1 (Moncton region).
The province has 137 active cases of the virus, with eight cases in hospital.
Aaron Sousa is a reporter for Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
With files from Tara Clow.
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