NB On track to End Lockdown and Return to Level 2 on January 30

At a press conference in Fredericton on Friday, January 30, 2022, Premier Blaine Higgs said that the province is on track to end lockdown nine days from now on January 30th at 11:59pm. 

“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 Premier Higgs. “I understand the impact Level 3 restrictions have had on businesses and on individuals, and I know these circumstances are not ideal. These measures are in place now to reduce the strain on our health-care system and health-care workers.”

New Brunswick moved to Level 3 of the province's Winter Plan on January 14 at 11:59pm in order to curb the number of people in hospital with the virus, which has put a serious strain on the healthcare system. There are currently 125 people in the province in hospital with the virus and, with the Omicron-driven fifth wave set to peak in two to three week's time, the province is hoping current measures will keep hospitalization below 150 at the peak. New Brunswick Chief Epidemiologist Mathieu Chalifoux projected that, if Level 3 measures weren't taken, the province could reach 220 people in hospital with the virus by early February.

Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell said vaccinations still remain an important step in the province's COVID-19 recovery. 

“It has now been exactly eight weeks since we held the first appointments for children aged five to 11 to receive their first dose of the vaccine,” said Dr. Russell. “This is an important occasion. It means that, very soon, many kids will become eligible to receive their second dose, providing them with better protection against the highly contagious Omicron variant.”