All health zones in New Brunswick are once again in the orange level of recovery effective January 6th. In a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Russell said Public Health recommended the roll back for the entire province due to the doubling of cases in less than six days, as well as multiple reports of incidences of non-compliance over the holidays.

Hundreds of long-term care residents at 20 different care facilities across the province are receiving the first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine this week and will receive the second dose 28 days later. Although Public Health is not publicly releasing the names of longterm care facilities where Moderna vaccination clinics are taking place, Health Department Spokesperson Bruce MacFarlane confirmed that at least one of the homes is in Charlotte County. The Moderna vaccine is the second vaccine to be approved for use in Canada and does not require the same low storage temperature as the Pfizer vaccine, making it more mobile.

Many New Brunswickers were happy to bid farewell to 2020, but the start of the New Year was extra special in St. Stephen where 2021 also marks the 150th anniversary of the Town. The Town of St. Stephen kicked off anniversary celebrations on New Year's Day with a virtual concert live-streamed from the Garcelon Civic Centre featuring performances from some of the town's most celebrated music groups. Mayor Allan MacEachern was on site to say a few words about the historic year we've had in the time of COVD-19 and the anniversary year to come.

Finally a group of just under 10 people braved the cold on New Year's Day to do a polar bear swim in the Bay of Fundy near Pendlebury Lighthouse. St. Andrews resident Garth Browne has been organizing the event for the past three years as a way to start the New Year off with a bang and a symbolic clean slate.