New Brunswick is loosening COVID-19 restrictions next week, and the premier said he is “hopeful” all mandates will end by the end of March.
“We will need to see hospitalizations go down as predicted and ensure that our health-care system is not placed under unnecessary strain,” Premier Blaine Higgs said.
“But the end of the mandate is certainly in sight.”
He added that decisions will be made “based on science” and that the province’s high level of vaccinations led to the ability to make the move.
The province will step down to Level 1 of its winter plan at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 18.
At that point, indoor gatherings can have a limit of 20 people, while outdoor gatherings can have 50. Businesses, spas, gyms and restaurants can open at full capacity with proof-of-vaccination for patrons. They were previously restricted to 50 per cent capacity.
Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public places and for outdoor public places where physical distancing can’t be maintained.
Faith venues will have a choice of requiring proof-of-vaccination or physical distancing, however both options must include masking. A change in Level 1 rules makes singing allowed at faith venues again.
Until Feb. 18, Level 2 restrictions are being adjusted to let kids sports teams bubble with one another to play.
During a COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said loosening restrictions will “lead to a bump” in hospitalizations, but that it is manageable.
She said the province is seeing the “first signs” that the Omicron wave is slowing down, and that daily hospitalizations have begun to decline in the past 10 days.
“If restrictions were to be reduced right now, we would expect a significant spike in hospitalizations during this month. If we wait another week, hospitalizations will rise modestly and then stabilize,” she said.
As of Wednesday, 139 people are in hospital, which is a decline of the 165 peak seen last week, she noted. According to the province’s dashboard, there were also six deaths reported, bringing the province’s total to 275 since the pandemic began.
“We must all remain vigilant to protect ourselves, our families and our communities,” said Russell.
“But it appears we are heading in the right direction.”
Meanwhile, Higgs said the rise in protests across the country against COVID-19 mandates, including the ones that have taken place in New Brunswick, have not played a role in the decision to loosen restrictions.
“This has not been a factor in our decision,” said Higgs.
“We are simply following the winter plan we put in place a few months ago.”
A protest is expected to take place in Fredericton this weekend, with the potential to create huge disruptions, as seen in Ottawa.
The protest, which has been advertised on social media, calls on people to converge on the provincial legislature and gridlock Fredericton. Participants are being told to “be prepared to sleep in your vehicle and ride this out.”
Higgs said New Brunswick is amending its emergency order, and the use of a vehicle to block the “normal flow of traffic” will be prohibited. Under the new rules, anyone convicted of using a vehicle to block or restrict the flow of traffic will have their driving privileges suspended for one year.
As well, anyone organizing or “aiding in an interruption in a normal flow of traffic” — which includes delivering food, drink, fuel or other supplies — could face fines ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 per person, per incident.
Corporations involved in the protest could face fines up to $100,000.
“Our public safety office is working in conjunction with the Fredericton police, the RCMP and any other resources required to ensure they have the right capability to manage the situation,” Higgs said.
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“I think there’s been a lot learned from (…) the situation in Ottawa and in Ontario and in Quebec and even out west, further in Alberta. And all of that knowledge will be used to control this situation to minimize the impact on citizens.”
He went on to say that he felt the province’s decision to move to Level 1 next week — and the loosening of restrictions elsewhere in the country — should be a proof to potential protesters that a demonstration isn’t necessary.
“So you kind of wonder what is the point at this stage. And I’m hopeful that the protesters that are there for the right reason will find no reason to be there and the ones that do show up, we have to question why,” he said.
— with a file from The Canadian Press
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