New Brunswick Hits Green Phase 1 Target

New Brunswick will transition to the first phase of the province’s green recovery level as of midnight Tuesday night. 

At a media briefing Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, said 75.1 per cent of New Brunswickers now have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

That equals out to almost 521,000 Brunswickers. 

With this announcement, Russell said the province can now take the first few steps to remove Public Health restrictions. 

“Today is not the end of our journey through the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is now hope that our situation will continue to improve,” said Russell. 

The province says as of midnight, the first phase of the Green level will eliminate the household bubble and allow New Brunswickers to maintain close contact with all friends and family members.

Travellers would also be allowed to enter New Brunswick from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Avignon and Témiscouata in Quebec, without being required to self-isolate.

Travel registration from those regions is still required, and travellers from other areas of Canada will still need to self-isolate. 

Cross-border commuters, truckers and rotational workers would also be subject to reduced restrictions.

Other loosened restrictions include allowing those living outside of Atlantic Canada into New Brunswick for compassionate travel. 

In addition, sporting activities can occur, and faith gatherings can move to 50 per cent capacity, with the choir four metres from the congregation. 

All other restrictions such as mask-wearing and physical distancing remain in place. 

As provinces start to open to travellers, Russell expects to see cases rise. She encourages New Brunswickers to continue following COVID-19 health rules, such as mask-wearing and physical distancing.

She thanks New Brunswickers for doing their part and health staff at vaccine clinics who have helped get the province to this point. 

“Your participation in this [vaccination] campaign will make us all safer against the threat of further COVID-19 outbreaks,” she said. 

In addition, around 18 per cent of New Brunswick seniors older than the age of 65 have now been fully vaccinated with two doses. 

Once we reach 20 per cent, we can enter the second phase of the green level. 

Premier Blaine Higgs said there will be a COVID cabinet meeting tomorrow night where leaders will talk about next reopening steps. 

But he says New Brunswick is on track to open to all Atlantic Canada and we could reach phase 2 of the green recovery plan this week. 

He added the third phase, where the province’s emergency order will end and all health restrictions can be lifted, is now within sight. 

“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we can move closer sooner than August 2, potentially weeks sooner,” said Higgs.

Russell said she is very encouraged by the second phase of the vaccination campaign, which found 12 per cent of New Brunswickers have been fully vaccinated. 

For maximum protection, Russell encourages New Brunswickers to get the second dose of their COVID-19 vaccine. 

Every New Brunswicker will be eligible for a second dose on Monday, as long as it’s been 28 days since their first dose. 

Russell said around 26,000 people booked vaccine appointments online yesterday, a new record. 

“As we move to the next phase of our vaccination campaign, we will be moving quickly to get as many people fully vaccinated as we can,” said Russell.

Russell said the two mRNA vaccines use the same active ingredient, comparing it to Advil or Ibuprofen. She said if residents received Pfizer as a first shot, they could get Moderna as their second and vice versa. 

She said the data comes from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick Public Health recorded three new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, including two in the Fredericton health zone and one in the Bathurst region.

There are 85 active cases of the virus in the province, including eight New Brunswickers in hospital and three in intensive care units. 

With files from Ben Burnett and Brad Perry.

Aaron Sousa is a reporter for Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.