New travel restrictions came into effect Monday at land border crossings for non-essential travelers crossing into Canada from the United States. Non-essential travellers must now provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival. 14 days of quaratine will still be required upon entry into Canada. Travelers who do not have proof of a negative test could face up to $3,000 in fines per person. In addition, starting Feb. 22nd, travelers arriving from international travel at both land borders and airports will also be required to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival as well as near the end of their 14-day quarantine. 

These new travel restrictions come at a time when concern for new and more contagious variants of COVID-19 are on the rise. Cases of the UK variant have already been confirmed in New Brunswick. At a press conference this Tuesday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell used the recent outbreak of the UK variant in Newfoundland as a close-to-home example of just how much more contagious new variants are.

"New Brunswickers stand with Newfoundland at this incredibly difficult time as they have stood with us," said Dr. Russell.

At a press conference on Thursday Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Gordon Dow of Horizon Health confirmed that while the UK variant is 30-70% more contagious than the original strain, it isn't necessarily more life-threatening to an individual but it will be more deadly in terms of the number of people it is able to infect.

"It isn't more lethal, but mortality rates will go up because it is more contagious," said Dr. Dow.

Saint John Theatre Company's production of "We Were Here", written and directed by Clyde A. Wray, is streaming from February 25-27 as part of Black History Month. The play tells the story of eight historic figures from New Brunswick's Black community who often haven't been given the credit they deserve in traditional history books for shaping the City of Saint and the province as a whole. Visit SaintJohnThreatreCompany.com for tickets to the streamed event.

Finally, in honour of New Brunswick's Heritage Week, taking place this week, the Charlotte County Archives is encouraging New Brunswickers to get involved in preserving local history. The Archives is actively looking for volunteers to scan and transcribe local historic documents so that they will be accessible for generations to come.