Another province loosens restrictions
It happened two weeks earlier than planned.
The New Brunswick provincial government announced that the second phase of the easing of restrictions went into effect in the region, just one day after the start of the first phase and two weeks earlier than planned. According to the plan to lift restrictions, the second phase was scheduled to begin on July 1.
At a press conference, Premier Blaine Higgs reported that New Brunswick has reached its goal: 75% of residents 12 and older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 20% of residents 65 and older are fully vaccinated.
"We've been living with this pandemic for so long, it's hard to believe we're so close to lifting the restrictions," Higgs noted.
The second stage allows people from the other Atlantic provinces of Canada — Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island — and from the rest of the region to come to New Brunswick, but provided that travellers have had at least one vaccination. Self-exposure upon arrival in New Brunswick is no longer required.
Higgs also reported that 13% of residents ages 12 and older have already received both doses of the vaccine, and the rest are actively signing up for a second vaccination. It is expected that if 75% of the population age 12 and older are double vaccinated by August, New Brunswick will be able to move into the third and final phase of the reliever.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, warned that the province could see an increase in cases as people from other regions are able to re-enter. However, she noted that more residents are being vaccinated, which means they will be protected against the virus.
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