HALIFAX -- New Brunswick reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Friday – marking nine consecutive days without a positive case.
According to the province’s website, there are now two active cases in the province. An active case that had been hospitalized in intensive care as of Thursday's update, is now considered recovered.
New Brunswick last reported a new case on June 23, a travel related case involving a person in their 50s from the Moncton region.
All zones in New Brunswick remain at the yellow level.
To date, the number of confirmed cases in the province is 165 and 161 have recovered. There have been two deaths.
One patient is currently hospitalized, and remains in intensive care.
As of Friday, public health staff have conducted 43,851 tests.
Atlantic Canada ‘bubble’
Starting Friday, residents of Atlantic Canada can visit the four provinces without having to self-isolate.
Atlantic Canadians must still abide by the public health directives in place in each province, such as practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene.
Residents shouldn’t travel if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Each province will choose their own processes to track and monitor travellers. In Nova Scotia, proof of Atlantic residency will be required to enter the province.
Visitors from outside Atlantic Canada must still adhere to the entry requirements in place in each of the four provinces.
Vehicle traffic numbers
Earlier this week, New Brunswick launched a new online dashboard with up-to-date information on COVID-19.
This includes information about vehicle traffic attempting to enter the N.B. border.
On Thursday, 6,846 personal and 4,406 commercial vehicles attempted to cross the border into the province. 160 vehicles were refused, for a refusal rate of 1.42%.
Those numbers were up significantly from Wednesday's border traffic. On Wednesday, the province reported 2,645 personal and 2,679 commercial vehicles attempted to cross the border. 127 vehicles were refused, for a refusal rate of 2.4%.
Service New Brunswick centres to reopen
Service New Brunswick announced all 33 of its service centres will be opened by July 13. However, the public is reminded that most services can be accessed online or through Tele-Services at 1-888-762-8600. SNB is looking at ways to offer more high demand services online like the written drivers test and address changes.
“We are pleased that we are reopening all of our centres and that people are embracing the convenience of doing their transactions online,” said Service New Brunswick Minister Sherry Wilson. “Our plan is to increase our service offerings both online and through Teleservices to ensure fewer service disruptions as part of our preparations for a possible second wave of COVID-19.”
Customer care agents have been working throughout the pandemic, answering more than 30,000 calls to the new COVID-19 information line, as well as processing the services available online and through Tele-Services.
Licenses and other documentation extended
In response to the ongoing state of emergency, the provincial government announced it is providing an extension for eligible licences and other documentation. All licences, registrations, certificates and permits issued by the Province of New Brunswick valid as of March 16 shall remain valid until July 31 unless suspended by a court or by other authority under an Act of the Province.
Many renewals can be done online.
The latest version of the Mandatory Order is available online.
Meanwhile, information concerning public health recovery phases, measures and guidelines is available online.