New Brunswick’s premier is thankful for companies and individuals who are doing what they can to help local charities, like soup kitchens and food banks during the pandemic.
Blaine Higgs urges anyone who has been financially impacted to take advantage of existing government programs, adding more than 38,000 applications have been submitted for the one-time $900 benefit.
“Use any financial assistance you receive to stay afloat, but keep employees working and look to the future,” says Higgs. “Now is the time to be innovative. If your business is not prohibited from operating and meets the health standards being imposed, we need you.”
He says they are in the process of enhancing their pandemic operational plan, which includes how they’ll address the growing number of cases.
“The plan takes both worst-case and best-case scenarios into account, this allows us to prepare for all situations we may encounter as this pandemic continues,” says Higgs.
The plan will be presented to cabinet and the all-party cabinet committee on COVID-19 before it’s released to the public.
He also says he’s been meeting regularly with the Horizon and Vitalité health networks to ensure they are able to handle the strain.
Higgs says we must continue to try and mitigate the spread of the virus by obeying the state of emergency and learn from other municipalities.
The premier says the Department of Education is in the process of finalizing continuity of learning programs and supporting resources.
More details are expected in the coming days.