COVID-19 delays lobster season in New Brunswick

The kick off to lobster season has been delayed a month in southern New Brunswick due to COVID-19. Fundy North Fishermans Association held a vote among license holders and the majority voted to push back the start date from March 31 to April 30, 2020. This new start date applies in Lobster Fishing Areas 36, covering Alma to the US border and 37 covering the Grand Manan Island region. Product isn't moving which has driven the price down and also contributed to the decision.  Last week in a press conference on the novel coronavirus, Premier Blaine Higgs said seasonal workers, including those in the lobster and fishing industries, could have their employment insurance extended if need be.

In order to keep Canadians employed, the federal government is funding a wage subsidy plan for all businesses regardless of the number of people on the payroll that covers 75% of employee wages. Any business that has experienced at least a 30% drop in revenue due to COVID-19 is eligible, but will have to provide proof of their revenue losses at a later date. The government is hoping this will lead to companies paying the remaining 25% of their employees wages and also rehiring anyone who had already been laid off due to COVID-19.

Charlotte County has many small businesses who are already dealing with revenue losses, but many of them are already finding creative ways to overcome the restrictions placed upon them by social distancing. St. Stephen business woman Abby Pond of Queen of Cups Lingerie who is now measuring her clients for tailored lingerie in virtual fittings. This has unwittingly opened up her market internationally.

When it comes to shopping for essential services, there are still high volumes of people creating crowded environments in local stores, and often shopping in pairs and groups. Premier Higgs at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon encouraged store to uphold a limit to the number of customers allowed inside any given time and to discourage unnecessary group shopping.

"I've heard stories of three or four people going into stores together and coming out with one bag. I expect the store managers to limit the number [of people in stores]," said Higgs.

Community spread of COVID-19 is now in New Brunswick, and self-isolation is quickly becoming the new normal. For many church goers, this has meant going without their regular weekly worship services. CHCO-TV has partnered with Archdeacon John Matheson of the All Saints Anglican Church in Saint Andrews, Student Minister Emma Seamone of the McAdam, Upper Mills and Bocabec Pastoral Churches, Rev, Ladd Dunfield from the St. Andrews Baptist Church and the Lighthouse Weslian Church of Grand Manan to bring Sunday services into your living rooms, beginning every Sunday at 10am on CHCO-TV.