Public Health will re-evaluate Zone 1 (the Moncton region), which is currently in the Red level of recovery, and Zone 4 (the Edmundston region), which is currently in lockdown), early next week to see if the zones have improved enough to return to a less restrictive level of the province's COVID-19 recovery plan.

“The steps we have taken to reduce the transmission of this virus are having an impact,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, at a press conference on Thursday, February 4th, in Fredericton. “I want to thank New Brunswickers for following the directives of Public Health and encourage them to keep it up. On Monday, we will be reassessing the current situation and if things continue to trend the way they are, we could see changes to the alert levels in Zone 1, the Moncton region, and Zone 4, the Edmundston region.”

Both Dr. Russell and Minister of Health Dorothy Shephard expressed concern for Superbowl parties and their potential to increase the number of cases in the province if New Brunswickers relax their efforts to fight the spread of the virus.

“Despite the fatigue we are all feeling at this stage in the pandemic, we must stay the course and continue to follow the rules,” said Minister Shephard. “By restricting our borders and following strict self-isolation guidelines now, we will be able to get outbreaks under control. If we stay on the right track, we will eventually be able to move throughout the province more freely and may even be able to consider reopening the Atlantic Bubble.”

Dr. Russell and Minister Shephard will make an announcement early next week regarding their recommendations for Zone 1 and Zone 4 after both zones have been assessed. Currently, Zone 4 is the only health zone in the province where the number of active cases is continuing to increase.