COVID Spike Bursts the Atlantic Bubble
The Atlantic Bubble has burst, suddenly breaking into three pieces earlier today.
The day started with a united front as all four provincial premiers agreed that residents should begin to restrict travel, even among the Atlantic provinces.
By late morning Newfoundland’s premier held a press conference to announce his province was withdrawing from the bubble for at least the next two weeks, wiping out travel without the need to isolate for 14 days on arrival in Newfoundland and Labrador.
That announcement was followed shortly by an echo from Prince Edward Island as the island province shut its doors to out of province travellers unless they would isolate over the two following weeks.
That left New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as the only remaining residents of the once proud Bubble.
Premier Stephen McNeil says he has no plans to put up a shield with New Brunswick, but nothing will be ruled out as the COVID numbers keep rising in the two provinces.
Nova Scotia tested 1,143 people yesterday which unearthed another eleven new cases, bringing the provincial total to fifty-one.
Once again, all the new cases are within the Central Health Zone, impacting Halifax and Part of Hants County.
It is that area that faces dramatic changes in health guidelines and regulations starting today. While the rest of Nova Scotia continues with the guidelines that have been in place for many weeks, the Central Zone gathering numbers are reduced to five, hospital visitation has all been eliminated except in certain special cases, and a number of businesses are closing voluntarily in advance of more stringent measures expected by the province. In Fact, Premier McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang plan an announcement tomorrow at 3 pm in an online press conference.
"Nova Scotia is urging people to limit travel for the next two weeks. I respect the decision of the provinces of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to take further steps at this time," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "Our border with New Brunswick continues to be monitored. There are a number of people on both sides of our shared border who drive back and forth for work or other essential reasons, and they can continue to do so. But for anyone considering a shopping trip or other non-essential travel, we are asking you not to go. This is another step we can take to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health says, “COVID-19 has found its way back into our communities. It is the responsibility of all of us to move quickly and stop it from spreading further.”
The new restrictions in Halifax Regional Municipality and parts of Hants County can be found at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/county-restrictions/.
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