New COVID Guidelines For Some City Facilities

You will need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to access certain city buildings in Saint John starting Wednesday.

The directives, which were approved by council Monday, align with new provincial regulations going into effect.

Provincial officials announced last week that people will be required to show proof of vaccination and government-issued ID when accessing certain events, services and businesses starting Wednesday.

In Saint John, that will include city-owned indoor sports facilities, community centres, and city-organized indoor events.

You will not need to be vaccinated to enter the City Market, unless you plan on eating there, according to city manager John Collin.

Collin said staff will verify proof of vaccinations in the main dining area, while vendors will be responsible for their own individual seating areas.

“We are recommending that the solarium not be open for the full hours of the City Market operations but rather have reduced hours adjusted to really focus in on the lunchtime crowd,” he said.

Starting Wednesday, the solarium in the market will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Collin said proof of vaccination will also be required to access city workspaces, including City Hall, Rothesay Avenue, and Adelaide Street offices, but counter services will remain unrestricted.

“All of our counter services right now are protected with plexiglass, which gives an additional measure of protection,” he said. “A lot of our counter services, one would argue, are essential services or certainly services that are important to the entire community, including the unvaccinated.”

Coun. Paula Radwan questioned if people are unable to enter city departments, such as the One-Stop Development Shop, to get permits or other information.

Collin said the city has a number of digital ways to deal with those types of situations and could also make arrangements to meet at third-party locations.

“We will try not to prevent unvaccinated from achieving what needs to be achieved, but at the end of the day, the province has been quite clear: get vaccinated,” he said.

“We will try, within resources available to cater to those who are unvaccinated, but there certainly could perhaps be a circumstance, based on the current direction and our current vaccine or test policy, that we will not be able to cater to them and they’ll have to wait.”

Members of the public attending council or committee meetings must show proof of vaccination or will be denied entry and encouraged to participate virtually, said Collin.

Also starting Wednesday, masks will once again become mandatory in all indoor public places in New Brunswick, including on Saint John Transit buses. Riders will not be required to show proof of vaccination.

Earlier this month, council approved a recommendation from the city manager to adopt a COVID-19 vaccination or testing policy for all employees and councillors.

Employees and councillors who attend the workplace will have to show proof of full vaccination, or wear masks and undergo COVID-19 testing.

Collin said the COVID-19 situation is “rapidly changing” and he is giving “serious consideration” to re-activating the city’s Emergency Management Organization, allowing the city to adjust some measures without needing council approval each time.

“Quite frankly, we may need that flexibility depending on how things change in the coming days and weeks,” said Collin.