New Brunswick Plans To Reopen Economy Soon, But Sets No Firm Date
FREDERICTON – It was a good news day on the COVID-19 front: there were no new cases for the fifth straight day and the premier announced the economy will begin reopening soon.
The province will be announcing a plan in the coming days to loosen restrictions imposed under the state of emergency, including the gradual re-opening of the economy, Blaine Higgs announced Thursday.
“As our province slowly moves into its initial recovery phase I want to caution you that it will not be as easy as flipping a light switch,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “We will have to act strategically. We will open businesses slowly as we adapt to our new reality.
“As a province, we have done excellent work flattening the curve. But the next step is just as important. If we move too quickly all of the efforts we have made over the last six weeks could be lost. I must remind all New Brunswickers that moving into recovery does not mean the threat of COVID-19 is gone.”
If they see a new spike in cases, Higgs said they will put restrictions back in place.
In the last day, other provinces have announced plans to begin loosening restrictions and slowly opening up their economies again. Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island both announced plans that would be implemented in early May.
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Higgs wouldn’t commit to a starting date for a plan or reveal details during his press conference Thursday.
“We had our meetings with the COVID-19 cabinet committee so we have a plan that is now being formatted. The intent is to make the presentation within the coming days. I recognize the timelines are important for people to understand where we’re going,” he said.
“We haven’t nailed down all the specifics in relation to ensuring it’s comprehensive, people understand it, we’re able to answer questions…I want to be able to put something together that gives more answers than questions…It’s on the cusp coming very, very soon.”
The premier made the announcement on a day where the Chief Medical Officer announced no new cases for the fifth straight day, one of the reasons the government feels confident it can begin to loosen restrictions.
The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 118 and the number of active cases is 14. To date, 104 people have recovered. There are five patients hospitalized, including one patient in an intensive care unit.
“The next phase in the struggle to contain COVID-19 will soon begin, as it is in other jurisdictions,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell. “There will be a measured and methodical process to reopen our province and we will step carefully as we go forward and I urge you to do the same.”
Russell says as people head back to work and non-essential businesses begin to open again, people will still be required to obey social distancing rules, such as remaining six feet away from people in public spaces and workplaces and wearing masks in cases where it’s hard to remain that far apart.
“These are all key elements of our new normal,” she said.