All health zones in New Brunswick will move to the updated Yellow level of recovery at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2021. The new Yellow level will allow residents to expand their steady 10 to a steady 15 list of contacts. Every person's list of "Steady 15" can visit venues together, including dining out at restaurants. Sports teams will be allowed to play within their league across zones, and tournaments or larger events within a zone may be permitted. Formal indoor gatherings will be allowed provided there is an operational plan in place, which includes ensuring that the venue is operating at 50 per cent capacity or less. Formal and informal outdoor gatherings of 50 people or fewer are also allowed with physical distancing in place.

“I am concerned about the rising number of active cases in the Miramichi region and Public Health is monitoring the situation closely,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “If there is a significant change between now and then, we will revisit the decision but currently the Miramichi will move to Yellow along with the rest of the province.”

Public Health is also currently updating its COVID-19 vaccination plan, and details will be provided next week. The updated plan will include the roll out for the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We are making adjustments to the plan that will allow us to vaccinate more New Brunswickers in a shorter time frame,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “We will have more information about the updated plan very soon, including the important role pharmacists and other health-care partners will play.”