'Remember the 46 New Brunswickers,' N.B. to go green after 499 days of emergency order: RCMP
According to the New Brunswick RCMP, Friday will mark 499 days since the COVID-19 emergency order was put in place by the province.
And on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., that order won't be renewed – which will mean the removal of all restrictions, from border checks to masks.
In a statement Tuesday, the RCMP's assistant commissioner Larry Tremblay thanked frontline workers and asked that people still follow public health recommendations to stop future spread.
"As we mark the end of the Emergency Measures Act, and move toward a post-pandemic world, please take a moment to remember the 46 New Brunswickers who lost their lives to COVID-19, as well as the many others who have endured the loss of loved ones during this challenging time," he said.
There is a cautious optimism as the last days of the mandatory order tick by.
Liberal leader Roger Melanson says he hasn't decided if he'll keep using masks after Saturday.
"I do know a lot of New Brunswickers are thinking about it," he said.
While he believes the 81.6 per cent of people who have their first dose will get their second, they may not be quick about it.
"What I'm concerned about is the speed of people going for their second shots," he said. "It is summer, the weather is nice and people have things to do, like vacationing and spending time with family and friends. Certainly now with more freedom after Friday, it may not always be top of mind to go for their second dose."
Monday saw a lower vaccine turnout, at about 2,500 people.
The average Monday in July has been about 10,000.
New Brunswick Lung Association CEO Melanie Langille is hoping there's a consideration for one another's health as the province moves into the next phase.
"I hope to see that mask-wearing becomes something that we're comfortable with," she said. "If you have signs of a respiratory infection and you need to go to the grocery store, it would be great if everybody just continues to wear masks to protect each other."
But she says from a COVID management perspective, the province has been proactive.
"I'm quite confident that in our reopening we have weighed the benefits and the potential risks quite well, against the potential overwhelming of our hospital system and the rate of vaccination that we have in our general population, that this is going to be a positive step going forward."
Administrators at the University of New Brunswick say the move to green will also mean they can increase class sizes in September.
"Although some health and safety protocols will remain, physical distancing will no longer be required in classrooms when New Brunswick moves to Green," the university said in a statement. "Over the next few weeks, we will work with faculty to explore opportunities to increase in-person course offerings. Any changes to course delivery methods will be updated in the course timetable by Wednesday, Aug. 11."
The N.B. government is also making plans for Aug. 2 – New Brunswick day. A full schedule of festivities have been planned for the Fredericton-area – including a livestream of some events for those who feel more comfortable viewing from home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.