Atlantic Bubble Will Not Reopen April 19
HALIFAX — The reopening of the Atlantic Bubble has been pushed back by at least two weeks until May 3.
A release from the Council of Atlantic Premiers indicated the decision was made based on expert advice from the region’s chief medical officers of health.
“Given the recent surge in cases of Coviud-19 in parts of Atlantic Canada and the emergence of more transmissible forms of the virus, the Council of Atlantic Premiers has agreed to delay the reopening of the Atlantic Bubble,” the release reads.
Previously, the four provinces had agreed to reopen the bubble on April 19.
The premiers will meet again during the last week of April to discuss the status of the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether a further delay to May 10 is required.
The bubble allows residents of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island to travel between the four provinces without needing to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
In a press briefing earlier on Tuesday, Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin had already expressed skepticism that the bubble would open on time, saying the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak in New Brunswick has changed the calculation.
He pointed to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Edmundston, as well as possible variant cases that are beginning to pop up in Saint John and Moncton.
As of April 12, there were 145 active Covid-19 cases in New Brunswick.
“We have always said that our approach is flexible and nimble, and when we see science changing we must act. That’s what we’re doing today,” Rankin said.
As Covid-19 cases in New Brunswick continue to rise, Rankin also announced today he is reinstating restrictions at the New Brunswick border.
As of 8 a.m. April 14, anyone travelling into Nova Scotia from New Brunswick will once again have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Nova Scotia had been allowing travellers from New Brunswick to come into the province without isolating, even as Covid-19 took hold in Edmundston.
Rankin had previously argued that opening the border was safe because very few people from the Edmundston area were travelling into Nova Scotia.
However, he said Tuesday before the joint announcement from the four premiers that new cases popping up closer to the border, in Saint John and Moncton, changed that calculation.
Dr Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, also said Covid-19 cases in Nova Scotia are also “the highest we’ve seen in a while.”
The province announced six new cases Tuesday, all related to travel or close contact with someone who travelled. There are now 45 active Covid-19 cases in Nova Scotia.
Strang said he’s not “sounding the alarm” at this point but that he’s not taking the rising case counts lightly.
He pointed out that most of the cases in Nova Scotia are still connected to travel outside the province and that public health measures continue to be effective at curbing the virus’ spread.
“I won’t tell you not to worry. We are in a pandemic and a little bit of concern and caution about a third wave will help us stay committed and focused,” Strang said. “However, it’s important to continue to do what you have done for the past year to keep yourself and others safe.”
Strang pointed out that Nova Scotia “is one of the safest places in the world” and that residents can do things many people in other parts of the world can’t, but stressed the importance of continuing to follow public health guidelines to maintain that relative safety.
Ben Burnett of Country 94/97.3 The Wave contributed reporting to this story.