New Brunswick is introducing “circuit-breaker” restrictions in COVID-19 hotspots for at least 14 days, in an attempt to control a surge of infections.
The restrictions go into effect Friday at 6 p.m., and impacts Zone 1 (Moncton region) as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, Zone 3 (Fredericton region) in the upper Saint John River valley north of and including Florenceville-Bristol, and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
“We are in a serious situation in our province,” said Premier Blaine Higgs during a news briefing Tuesday.
Non-essential travel in and out of these areas is not allowed. Travel that is allowed includes travelling for work, health services, child custody, childcare, post-secondary education or travel to events where proof of vaccination is required.
Residents must also limit their contact to within their household bubble.
While businesses and events can open, they will need proof of vaccination for admittance. Children under 12 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult will also be admitted.
Schools will remain open, but extracurricular activities and sports are on hold for those 12 and under.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell said the steps are being taken to keep the virus from “becoming even more entrenched in these communities.”
“These measures are proportional to our situation and the risk posed by COVID-19,” she said.
“As I have said before, we cannot lock down everyone, everywhere until this virus has been eradicated. We all need to go to work, to attend school, to see friends and family, but we have to do these things as safely as we can.”
Thanksgiving gatherings will also be limited to single-household contacts — for the entire province.
The restriction applies to both indoor and outdoor gatherings. It is in effect from Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 11:59 p.m.
“The area of greatest concern right now would be casual, in-home gatherings,” said Higgs.
“I appreciate this is a lot to take in, but it is imperative that we now take decisive action if we are going to get this fourth wave under control as quickly as possible.
Mandatory vaccinations amid ‘unprecedented’ number of cases
Higgs said an all-party COVID cabinet committee has also approved a mandatory vaccination policy for certain provincial employees, including those working in long-term care and child-care facilities.
The policy applies to all government employees in Parts I (civil service), II (education system), III (health-care system) and IV (Crown corporations).
Employees will have until Nov. 19 to be fully vaccinated, or will be placed on unpaid leave. Prior to Nov. 19, those who are not fully vaccinated and are identified as a contact of a positive case will be required to isolate without pay for 14 days.
Higgs said child-care facilities that don’t ensure staff are fully vaccinated risk losing their licences.
Meanwhile, the province will begin administering booster doses of an mRNA vaccine this week to residents in nursing homes and other communal settings.
The province announced 90 new cases on Tuesday, and one death. There are now 782 active cases and 50 people in hospital, including 23 patients in ICU.
Russell called case counts, hospitalizations and deaths over the past month “unprecedented,” and noted 82 per cent of those in hospital are not vaccinated.
“Things are extremely stretched,” she said of the health-care system.
“Our target is really to reduce hospitalizations and whatever the measures are that we need to put in place … that’s what we’re going to focus on. And we know that it’s going to probably take about two to three weeks to see the effects of what’s happening now during that time.”
Russell said that a backlog in testing has been resolved, and “priority cases” can expect to receive their results back in 24 to 48 hours.
To further help alleviate the high demand for testing, parents will soon be receiving rapid test kits for students who are close contacts of cases within a school.