As of 8am on Wednesday, any New Brunswickers who are not fully vaccinated will be required to self-isolate when they enter Nova Scotia. Premier-designate Tim Houston made the announcement at a news conference Monday, revoking the Atlantic Bubble status for New Brunswickers, who will now fall under the same rules as people from other provinces in Canada. Nova Scotia chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang cited recent cases in Nova Scotia that were linked to cases in New Brunswick.
“Given the situation in New Brunswick, and the connection to new cases here at home, Dr. Strang is today recommending we reestablish border measures with New Brunswick,” said Houston Monday. “If you’re fully vaccinated, these restrictions will not apply to you.”
The newly elected premier also announced a further lifting of public health restrictions in Nova Scotia for September 15.
58 NEW CASES IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NO BREAKDOWN ON VACCINATION STATUS OF CASES
Case counts in New Brunswick continue to soar, with 58 new cases reported since Saturday. Over half of those are in Zone 1, the Moncton region.
Three people are now in hospital with COVID-19 in the province. There are 173 active cases in the province, and 98 active cases in Zone 1.
Provincial public health continues to plea with New Brunswickers to get vaccinated, citing disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infections in those who are not fully vaccinated. About 35% of New Brunswickers have not had two shots of a COVID-19 vaccine, but since July 1, 89% of new cases are from that group.
CHMA has asked the province to share the rates for people who are partially vaccinated with one shot, and those who are not vaccinated at all, but the province refused to share that information.
The province also refused to share the number of recent COVID-19 cases in those under 12 years of age, who are not eligible for the vaccine.
About 25% of New Brunswickers have not had any shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, which includes anyone under 12 years of age, who make up about 11% of the population.
Health department spokesperson Bruce MacFarlane says the province is, “providing information at a level that cannot permit the reidentification of individuals but is sufficient for the public to be able to protect themselves and others.”
