Nova Scotia Opens Border With New Brunswick
Last Updated: March.19/4:19 p.m.
HALIFAX—Nova Scotia is opening its border with New Brunswick as Covid-19 cases fall in both provinces.
As of 8 a.m. March 20, anyone travelling into Nova Scotia from New Brunswick will no longer have to self-isolate upon arrival.
The new rule applies both to New Brunswickers coming to Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotians coming back home after travelling into New Brunswick.
Premier Iain Rankin said today the move was possible because of positive epidemiology in both provinces.
“I know this will make life easier for Nova Scotians who have family in New Brunswick, or who work in New Brunswick,” Rankin said.
On March 19, Nova Scotia had 17 active Covid-19 cases and New Brunswick had 48.
The Government of New Brunswick has said that, for now, anyone entering New Brunswick must still self-isolate for 14 days, including New Brunswick residents returning from Nova Scotia.
“We have announced that no later than April 19th we will be reopening the Atlantic bubble, conditional upon COVID-19 case numbers remaining low, containing outbreaks, and advice from public health,” Bruce Macfarlane, the communications director for New Brunswick’s Department of Health, said in a statement.
Macfarlane said his province’s public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and that the decision to ease travel restrictions “will continue to be closely monitored and may change at any time.”
Nova Scotia’s loosened border restrictions come on the heels of recent news that the four Atlantic provinces plan to reopen the Atlantic Bubble no later than mid-April.
Rankin said today the previously announced April 19 opening date is “the latest we are looking at,” but that if epidemiology remains strong and all the provinces are comfortable the bubble could go up even sooner.
He said an influx of visitors to Nova Scotia will “significantly benefit our tourism industry and local businesses.”
“With an Atlantic Bubble, strong public health measures, and low case numbers, we know that Atlantic Canadians will be eager to visit us,” he said.
Although Rankin said he’s eager to reopen the Atlantic borders, he would not commit to any timelines for opening the province to the rest of Canada.
“There’s no guidebook to how we figure that out. We’re just focused right now on our region,” he said, adding that he won’t discuss broader border openings until vaccinations are more widespread.
Low Covid-19 case counts in Nova Scotia also prompted the provincial government to loosen several other public health restrictions.
As of March 20, the special restrictions that had been in place just for the Halifax Regional Municipality and its surrounding communities will be dropped, bringing the region in line with the rest of the province.
Across the province, restaurants and bars will also be able to stay open and serve food longer. Now, restaurants and bars will be able to serve food until 11 p.m., and stay open to seated customers until midnight.
Household gathering restrictions, and restrictions for special events and festivals, have also been loosened.
More information on the specifics of the new rules is available on the Government of Nova Scotia’s online Covid-19 portal.