New Brunswick's 'circuit breaker' measures put a damper on Thanksgiving plans

SAINT JOHN, N.B. -

With New Brunswick entering the Thanksgiving weekend with new public health orders, some people are openly stating their intentions to ignore the mandatory measures.

The Department of Health says all New Brunswick residents are required to limit their contacts to a single household for outdoor and indoor gatherings from 6 p.m. Friday until the end of Monday.

Several people have openly stated, particularly on social media, their plans to disobey the order.

Other measures begin in certain 'hot spot' portions of the province and will continue for 14 days. Those circuit breaker areas include: Zone 1 (Moncton region) as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent and including Havelock in Zone 2; the northern portion of Zone 3 from and including Deerville and Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region), including Menneval in Zone 5.

The public health order says travel to and from circuit breaker areas is prohibited, except for work, health-care services, post-secondary education, or childcare reasons.

The provincial government announced the Thanksgiving weekend restrictions on Tuesday, prompting immediate reactions of confusion, frustration, and anger.

"Naturally there are some people that are openly saying they won't follow the rules," says Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis. "But the majority of the people will be following them as they have for the past year and a half now."

Sackville Mayor Shawn Mesheau says he's also noted anger, adding the circuit breaker restrictions still allow for schools and businesses to remain open.

"We're fortunate that we're not in a total lockdown," he says.