Significant changes to the Orange and Yellow levels of recovery are being introduced in New Brunswick this week, some of which go into effect almost immediately. As of February 27th, the following will now be part of the Orange level of recovery: Travel between Orange zones will be permitted and residents may include people from other Orange zones in their steady 10 contacts; visits will be allowed in hospitals, as per regional health authority policy and guidance; compassionate travel exemptions, with Public Health preapproval, will be extended to people living outside New Brunswick who are entering the province to attend.

These new changes to the Orange level of recovery will all for New Brunswickers to enjoy a more socially and emotionally healthy lifestyle while still staying safe. If COVID-19 cases remain low and no outbreaks occur over the next critical week, which also happens to be spring break for most schools in the province, Public Health could recommend the entire province move from the Orange level of recovery to the less restrictive Yellow level of recovery as early as midnight on Sunday, March 7, 2021. 

“If we are able to keep the spread of the virus contained, the rules and restrictions will continue to loosen as more people in the province are vaccinated,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “However, if we have outbreaks, we will not hesitate to move to more restricted levels to gain control quickly, as we have done throughout this pandemic, even if that means going from the Yellow level to lockdown.”

Public Health has also recommended that the Yellow level of recovery be amended to address the need to control the spread of potential new variants. The changes to the Yellow level include: Residents will be allowed to expand their steady 10 to a steady 15 list of contacts. They may visit venues together, including dining out at restaurants. Sports teams will be allowed to play within their league across zones, following their operational plan. Tournaments or larger events within a zone may be permitted, subject to approval of the plan. Formal indoor gatherings will be permitted with an operational plan in place as long as the venue is at 50 per cent capacity or less and physical distance can be maintained. Formal and informal outdoor gatherings of 50 people or fewer will be permitted with physical distancing in place.

“We recognize the importance of spending time with others in maintaining good mental health, but we must also be able to swiftly trace and isolate contacts when outbreaks occur,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “We have introduced the steady 15 in the Yellow level to strike this balance. With the presence of variants that can be transmitted more easily, it remains important to keep your circle of close contacts relatively small.”

Public Health is also launching a pilot project to provide rapid testing for asymptomatic people who regularly travel across the border for work or other authorized purposes, including New Brunswick truck drivers. The project began on Friday, February 26, 2021, in Hartland.

“To help combat the COVID-19 virus, we are setting up rapid testing at a pharmacy for asymptomatic residents who regularly travel across the border,” Dr. Russell said. “The pilot project will take place at Pharmacy for Life in Hartland. Only asymptomatic individuals, who can provide proof that they regularly cross the border, may participate.”

“We have consulted with groups such as those in the trucking industry and have heard concerns from them regarding access,” Higgs said. “We want to make sure that testing is made easily available so that it does not place an unreasonable burden on people. Our goal is to increase COVID-19 safety for these individuals, their families and all New Brunswickers by detecting the virus early in the event anyone is exposed during necessary travel.”