New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said the province is “on track” to move from Level 3 to less restrictive Level 2 of its winter action plan at midnight on Sunday, January 30. The province is currently nearing the tail end of a 16-day lockdown. 

“Our ability to manage the situation is improving thanks to the dedication of multiple teams and volunteers. This is good news, and I hope this trend will continue,” said Higgs. “We’re still not out of the woods for sure, but it is a positive sign."

There are currently just under 500 health-care workers off work and isolating due to the virus and the province has had triple digit hospitalization numbers for COVID-19 since mid-January. While hospitalizations due to the virus are still increasing, the lockdown appears, at the moment, to have tempered the surge. 

Lockdown orders haven't been followed by everyone, however. About 400 people, many not wearing masks, attended a rally protesting lockdown measures and vaccine mandates outside Fredericton City Hall on Saturday. Two men were arrested and several tickets were issued to organizers and participants for violating the Emergency Measures Act, but the event continued despite not being allowed under the rules of New Brunswick's Level 3 restrictions. More rallies and protests are being organized online for the weekend ahead despite lockdown orders still being in effect. 

Whether large gatherings such as these will significantly impact New Brunswick's hospitalization numbers enough to postpone a lifting of lockdown restrictions remains to be seen. Education Minister Dominic Cardy is hopeful students will return to in-person learning on January 31 regardless of what level the province is in. At a press conference on Monday, Cardy said public health will make the call later in the week.

“Certainly I'm optimistic it will be next week, because that was the date public health gave us," said Cardy. "But I'm not going to pre-judge their conclusions.”

Cardy unveiled the province’s back-to-school plan at the press conference. The changes include classroom bubbles for children in Kindergarten to Grade 8 and masking indoors except while eating or drinking. If the province moves to Level 2 when school starts, students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 will no longer have to wear masks outdoors if they are in their bubbles. Otherwise, outdoor masking is required and three-layered masks are recommended for students.

"It's a question of controlling the spread, not stopping it, and our schools are not going to be immune," said Cardy.

Cardy said the province has spent $3 million to purchase 2,000 HEPA filter units for 60 schools without integrated mechanical ventilation units, which will be installed by Monday. Vaccines still remain our best defense against COVID-19, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell would like to see more children aged 5 to 11 rolling up their sleeves. Right now just over half of children in this age group have received a single dose of a vaccine despite being eligible for the past two months. In the 12 to 19 year old age group, that number is significantly higher with 87% have had at least one dose. 

“By getting your kids vaccinated, you will be helping them get back to being kids,” said Dr. Russell.