How the Calais, Maine COVID-19 outbreak could affect Southwest New Brunswick

The growing number of COVID-19 cases in Washington County, Maine, specifically in the Calais area, is a cause for concern for residents of Charlotte County as well as Public Health and local councils. New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell and her team organized a virtual meeting with municipal leaders across Southwest New Brunswick this week to assess the potential risks for the international border area and to coordinate the messaging of risks and responsibilities to the public.

This comes weeks after Public Health launched a satellite COVID-19 testing site in St. Stephen after an outbreak at Woodland Pulp in Baileyville, Maine, which employees seven residents of Charlotte County. Besides these mill workers, dozens of other Charlotte County residents cross the international border every day to work in the US in a variety of jobs that fall under the umbrella of essential workers, from hospital staff to grocery store clerks.

Campobello residents are also permitted to acquire essential goods and services in the U.S., from gas to groceries. But as COVID-19 cases rise in Washington County, there's heightened concern that some Southwest New Brunswick residents who have permission to enter the U.S. are abusing these privileges by partaking in non-essentials activities, from dining in restaurants and visiting friends to shopping for non-essential goods for themselves and others. Public Health and local Southwest New Brunswick municipalities will be putting out messaging addressing proper border protocol in the coming days.

Finally, a group of local knitters in Saint Andrews have made over 700 handmade poppies that now adorn the street lights on Water Street near town hall in honour of Remembrance Day. The group of 14 knitters hope to attract more craftspeople to their group to add more poppies and adorn more poles in years to come. And although we can't congregate as usual to mark Remembrance Day this year, CHCO will be broadcasting coverage of Remembrance Day Services for Saint Andrews and Saint Stephen on November 11.