Health Minister Discusses Level 3 Measures

New Brunswick’s health minister says she thinks the reaction to more stringent COVID-19 measures has been as expected.

On Thursday, the province announced that all health zones would transition to Level 3 of the winter plan as of 11:59 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14.

The new measures are expected to remain in place through Sunday, Jan. 30.

“I think many people are relieved that we’re taking action now,” Dorothy Shephard said in an interview on Friday.

“I believe the majority of people understand that a Level 3 is an extraordinary measure, but by looking at our sister provinces, we know that we need to act.”

But questions have been raised about why the government did not act sooner, especially with hospitalizations and cases climbing since Christmas.

The province surpassed 100 active hospitalizations on Thursday, which is one of the triggers to consider moving to Level 3.

Shephard said the triggers — which also include an increasing seven-day average of new cases and new hospital admissions, and a positivity rate of 15 per cent — were put in place for a reason.

“We predicted that we would get there this week, so the work to assess from moving to Level 3 actually started late last week, if not sooner,” she said.

“It’s really about pulling this trigger at the right time, and it was felt that now was the right time.”

Level 3 measures look slightly different from when the plan was first introduced to the public in early December.

Initially, the province said non-essential retail would be limited to curbside pickup and delivery online, but that is no longer the case.

“In many ways, our communities have learned how to live with COVID and how to present themselves in public. We know that we’re wearing masks, the majority of our public is vaccinated,” said Shephard.

“If we put so much focus on some of the intricacies like cordoning off non-essential sections of a big box store, for instance, we will lose the very quick momentum we need in compliance with what we need to do.”

While non-essential retail can remain open to in-person shopping, other businesses such as theatres, cinemas, gyms, salons and spas will be forced to close their doors in Level 3.

That means many people will be out of work — and not getting paid — for the next 16 days.

Shephard said the government is looking at ways to help mitigate the impact.

“We know this is going to create hardship. We wish there was a different way that it could be done. But we will be trying to provide as much help as we can for everyone,” she said.

On Thursday, the province said Opportunities New Brunswick will launch an enhanced Phase 3 of the New Brunswick Small Business Recovery Grant Program.

Eligible businesses can apply for a non-repayable grant of up to $10,000 — double the previous program — which applies to the reduction of sales incurred beginning December 2021.

Businesses can also access a one-time subsidy of up to $300 to help cover accounting costs incurred throughout the application process, said Higgs.