'The end is indeed in sight': N.B. releases details on COVID-19 reopening plan

N.B., P.E.I. release re-opening plans Two Maritime provinces release plans to loosen pandemic restrictions as vaccination rates climb. Nick Moore reports.

HALIFAX — New Brunswick announced details surrounding their COVID-19 reopening plan on Thursday, which could see the Atlantic Bubble reinstated by Canada Day.

"I know this news come as a huge relief for many, many New Brunswickers," said Premier Blaine Higgs. "Many of us have been separated from our loved ones in other parts of the country for more than 14 long months."

Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, says the plan involves three stages of slowly loosening COVID-19 restrictions, with target dates based on vaccination rates and the number of hospitalizations related to the novel coronavirus.

"Releasing this plan does not put us at the finish line of our pandemic journey," said Russell. "COVID-19 is always amongst us and will be for a certain period of time, even after the green phase, but it is a message of hope."

Dorothy Shephard, New Brunswick's minister of health, says thanks to hard work from New Brunswickers, the province is now able to announce what green will look like in the province.

"Before I start, I want to remind everyone that these dates are goals and they are subject to change based on our vaccination rates and the number of hospitalizations," said Shephard.

“As we move forward on the path to the Green level, we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of New Brunswickers,” said Higgs. “If we see a rise in cases and hospitalizations, or if we do not reach our vaccination goals, we will have to delay our target dates.”

Shephard said the province's first phase would come into effect June 7; as long as at least 75 per cent of New Brunswickers 12 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations remain low, and all health levels remain at the Yellow Alert level.

Changes that could come into effect in phase 1 include:

New Brunswick's second reopening phase is expected to come into effect on July 1; as long as 75 per cent of New Brunswickers 12 and older have received their first dose of a vaccine, 20 per cent of New Brunswickers 65 and older have received their second dose, hospitalizations remain low and all health zones remain at the Yellow Alert level.

In phase 2, changes made include:

Travel restrictions for the following individuals will continue in phase 2:

The third phase New Brunswick hopes to reach is Aug. 2. On this date, if at least 75 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the province will be considered at their Green Alert level, and the mandatory order will be removed, with all restrictions lifted.

“Green is coming and it is closer than we imagined,” said Shephard. “We are in this position thanks to the hard work being done across our province to roll out vaccines quickly and efficiently.”

"We are on the cusp of a very exciting moment," said Higgs. "Just think of where we were six or eight months ago and wondering when all of this could end. The end is indeed in sight, but we must continue to be vigilant."

NINE NEW CASES CONFIRMED

Public health confirmed Thursday afternoon that there are nine new cases of COVID-19 among New Brunswickers.

There are three cases in Zone 1 (the Moncton region), two of which are contacts of previous cases and the other is travel-related.

There are five new cases in Zone 3 (the Fredericton region) four of which are close contacts of previous cases. The other is a travel-related case and that person is isolating outside New Brunswick.

There is also one new case in Zone 6 (the Bathurst region), which is under investigation.

There are now 137 active cases, with 11 of those involving people who are infected elsewhere.

There are eight people in hospital, including three in intensive care. Two of the people are hospital in another province.