Edmundston area of New Brunswick in lockdown due to COVID-19 surge

New Brunswick’s Edmundston region is now in a 14-day lockdown, as the province reported 135 active coronavirus cases in that zone on Saturday.

Health officials in the province say the order is needed to curb a rise in daily infections that they fear is about to get out of control.

As of Sunday, non-essential travel is prohibited in and out of the area, which borders Maine and Quebec’s Bas-St-Laurent region.

The order also forces non-essential businesses, schools and public spaces to close, including outdoor ice rinks and ski hills.

The province says all indoor and outdoor gatherings from people of different households are prohibited.

A detailed list of lockdown restrictions, including what can remain open and what must close, is available online.

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Provincial officials say they will evaluate the situation in the region every seven days, and cabinet may extend the lockdown if necessary.

Zones 1, 2 and 3 remain at the red level under the province’s COVID-19 recovery plan. Zones 5, 6 and 7 remain at the orange level.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2021.

— With files from Global News.