With COVID-19 cases and deaths on the rise during New Brunswick's fourth wave of the pandemic, Premier Blaine Higgs and Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell anounced new restrictions for the province at the press conference on Tuesday.

Private Thanksgiving gatherings across all health zones in New Brunswick are limited to single households starting Friday, October 8, at 6pm and ending on Monday, October 11, at 11:59pm.

“We must act now to prevent the virus from becoming even more entrenched in these communities,” said Dr. Russell. “Businesses and events requiring proof of vaccination can remain open as these are controlled environments and patrons are asked for ID and must be vaccinated.”

“It is imperative that we take swift and decisive action to get this fourth wave under control and protect our health-care system,” said Higgs. “I recognize the challenges these measures will pose for New Brunswickers, but the alternatives are worse. Cabinet, the opposition leaders and Public Health are all in agreement that these regulations are necessary to keep everyone safe.”

New Brunswick will also impliment a 14-day COVID-19 circuit breaker on Friday in parts of the province experiencing more widespread outbreaks of the virus beginning on Friday. Residents of parts of Zone 1, Zonew 3 and all of Zone 4 must limit their contact to their single households. Businesses can remain open in these areas but non-essential travel  to and from circuit breaker zones is forbidden. The circuit breaker will last for at least the next to weeks. 

New Brunswick is also introducing rapid testing in schools, starting Oct. 12, to use on unvaccinated students who are close contacts of positive cases. Students requiring rapid tests will be allowed to return to school after two negative tests, provided they have no COVID symptoms.

September 30th marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. In Saint Andrews, hundreds of people from the town of just 1800 residents gathered around a drum circle at the Point to participate in a smudging ceremony organized by Kate Agaki and Judith Moses. Many of the participants wore orange shirts to pay tribute to First Nations children who lost their lives as well as those who survived the residential school system.

After the smudging ceremony, participants were asked to take a reflective walk. Akagi and Moses look forward to this event evolving in future years as Canadians come to terms with our history so that we can pave a better path forward.