New Brunswick will enter the first phase on the path toward the Green level of the COVID-19 recovery plan, effective as of midnight tonight. As of Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 75.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have been vaccinated with at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the third highest rate of any province after Quebec and British Columbia.

“I thank everyone who has taken the time to get that first dose of the vaccine to help protect yourself, your loved ones and your community,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “You have played a huge role in helping to move our province forward.”

“Reaching our first target on our path to Green will enable us to remove some of the Public Health restrictions that have been in place since the pandemic began,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “I thank everyone who made this possible. Your willingness to participate in this vaccination campaign will make us all safer against the threat of further COVID-19 outbreaks.”

Reaching the goal of at least 75 per cent of New Brunswickers 12 and older vaccinated with the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was one of three requirements for entering the first phase. Hospitalizations in the province also had to remain low and all health zones had to remain at the Yellow alert level.

Among some of phase 1's loosened restrictions: New Brunswickers no longer have to stick to a "steady 15" list of contacts. People from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Cumberland County, and provincial border communities in Nova Scotia and Quebec will be able to visit without having to isolate or get tested. Cross-border commuters and truckers also will no longer have to isolate or get tested regularly. In order to enter phase 2 of the province's path to re-opening on goal, 20% of New Brunswickers aged 65 and older need to be double vaccinated. Premier Higgs is confident we are ahead of schedule to meet that goal and could see Phase 2 go into effect as earlier as this week.

Under Phase 2, all Canadian travellers who have had at least one dose of a vaccine can come into New Brunswick without needing to isolate. Those who have not been vaccinated will also be allowed in but will need to follow isolation rules and testing requirements. Since New Brunswick is on track to enter Phase 2 ahead of schedule, Premier Higgs was asked if he believes we are also on track to enter the final phase, Phase 3, ahead of the August 2nd schedule, which would require at least 75% of eligible New Brunswickers to be double-vaccinated. He said it is entirely possible.

Any New Brunswickers who received their first dose of a vaccine prior to May 1 can now book an appointment for their second dose. On June 21, all eligible New Brunswickers can book a second dose appointment as long as at least 28 days have passed since their first dose.

“I am grateful to the New Brunswick pharmacists and health-care workers in Horizon and Vitalité health network clinics who have played a vital role in helping us reach this goal by administering vaccines,” said Higgs. “Thanks to their incredible work over the last few months, we have been able to administer an impressive 600,000 doses to more than 520,000 people.”

The second phase of the path toward the Green level of the COVID-19 recovery plan will come into effect when 20 per cent of New Brunswickers 65 and older have received their second dose. This is assuming hospitalizations remain low and all health zones remain at the Yellow alert level. As of today, 18 per cent of New Brunswickers 65 and older are fully vaccinated.

“We have done great things so far, but we are not done yet,” said Russell. “To have maximum protection against the COVID-19 virus, two doses of an approved vaccine are required. We need everyone who received a first dose to book an appointment for their second dose as soon as they are eligible.”