New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says vaccine passports or mask mandates may become necessary down the road, but not at this time.
At a COVID-19 briefing Wednesday, Higgs said the biggest drive for launching vaccine passports is to ensure the mobility of New Brunswickers to other provinces like Ontario, Quebec and British Coloumbia.
However, Higgs does not think having vaccine passports is necessary at this time and the last month in the green phase has unfolded as expected.
Quebec’s COVID-19 vaccine passport system comes into effect Wednesday and those aged 13 and over who want to access non-essential services are required to show proof of vaccination.
New cases
New Brunswick reported 11 new cases Wednesday and 21 recoveries from the disease.
Out of the new cases, five are in Zone 1 (Moncton region). Four cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one case is under investigation.
Two cases are in Zone 3 (Fredericton region). One case is a contact of a previously confirmed case and one case is under investigation.
One case is in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) and is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
The total number of active cases is 127.
During the briefing, Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said there have been increased cases across the country, but the good news is that as of Wednesday 75 per cent of New Brunswickers who are 12 and older have had two doses of the vaccine.
“This is a significant accomplishment,” said Russell. “COVID-19 is still with us … and the higher cases of (infections) are in unvaccinated people.”
This is why she’s encouraging people to continue getting vaccinated.
She also said there is a plan in place to keep students safe and have as normal of a year as possible.
Russell said aggressive contact tracing and isolation are still being done in the province. But vaccinations are the most important tool.
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