Monday 10 August 2020

Has the Atlantic bubble already opened to the rest of Canada?

"You still the feature act in the freek tent in said Circus?"

Methinks that troll would be the star of the show if the RCMP and CBC would reveal his teue name etc N'esy Pas?
 




Has the Atlantic bubble already opened to the rest of Canada?

Nova Scotia's borders have never been closed to any visitors, as long as they self-isolate for 14 days


Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Aug 09, 2020 11:01 AM AT

Premier Blaine Higgs says discussions are ongoing about opening up the region to the rest of Canada. (Government of New Brunswick/Submitted)
Premier Blaine Higgs says it will be at least another week before New Brunswick even considers opening up to the rest of Canada, but in a way, it already has through its Atlantic bubble agreement with Nova Scotia.

So has P.E.I.

Nova Scotia's borders have never been closed to visitors.


Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, anyone from any province or territory has been able to enter Nova Scotia for any reason as long as they self-isolated for 14 days, confirmed Heather Fairbairn, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Wellness.

Since the Atlantic bubble started on July 3, those visitors have been able to travel freely within the three Maritime provinces once their isolation is complete. (Newfoundland and Labrador allows only Maritime residents to enter, unless they have been granted exemptions.)
So even though New Brunswick has kept tight reins on those it allows in, and the conditions they have to meet, anyone who wants to get into the province could get in by going through Nova Scotia first.

Higgs told CBC News he was "fully aware" of Nova Scotia's open-door policy and that their visitors could continue on into New Brunswick.

"We have the Atlantic bubble, and the idea of doing that was to allow free travel to people that have isolated, people that we considered that should have free movement within this region," he said.

"We too have been bringing family and friends to New Brunswick, and they would self-isolate for 14 days and then they're allowed to travel around to different provinces in the Atlantic region."


For example, New Brunswick dropped requirements in June for out-of-province workers to self-isolate, even though Nova Scotia still requires workers living in the province and working elsewhere to self-isolate for 14 days when arriving home.

"So this is a reciprocal kind of program and … so far, it's been working well," said Higgs
 
Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa, thinks any outbreaks will be driven by international travellers. (Supplied by Raywat Deonandan)
Epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan, calls it "surprising" and "strange."

"I thought the bubble idea was that the borders were sealed entirely," said Deonandan, an associate professor with the faculty of health sciences at the University of Ottawa.

It also "makes little sense in terms of control of seeding [COVID-19] events," said Deonandan.

"The entire idea behind a contiguous bubble of adjacent provinces is that there should be consistency of policy around how you manage the borders. That's the only way this works."


It sounds that Nova Scotia is the most lenient partner, therefore everyone has de facto the same policy as Nova Scotia, whether they like it or not.
- Raywat Deonandan, epidemiologist
"If there isn't consistency, what are you doing?"

Deonandan draws a comparison to social bubbles.

"You're only as good as the people you trust." he said.

"The [Atlantic] bubble is only as good as its most lenient partner. So it sounds that Nova Scotia is the most lenient partner, therefore, everyone has de facto the same policy as Nova Scotia, whether they like it or not."

Deonandan points out there's "nothing magical" about the 14-day isolation requirement either. It's a median only, based on the estimated incubation period of the coronavirus.

"It's possible that you can pass the 14-day quarantine and still be positive."


Having said that, Deonandan thinks the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks within the Atlantic bubble from Canadian travellers who have self-isolated for 14 days is "low."

If outbreaks do occur, he believes they'll be driven by people who have travelled internationally, which has been the recent experience in some other jurisdictions.

Isolation won't be required

When New Brunswick does open up to the rest of the country, Higgs said the 14-day isolation period will no longer be required.

"I'll be … having calls with my Atlantic colleagues about the next step, but at this point we don't have any date in mind for reopening with the rest of Canada," he said Aug. 5.

He wants to evaluate the second week of expanding the New Brunswick bubble to residents of two Quebec border regions without the need to self-isolate, he said.

Residents of Avignon Regional County Municipality, which borders Restigouche County and includes Listuguj First Nation and Pointe-à-la-Croix, and of Témiscouata Regional County Municipality, which borders Madawaska County have been able to cross into the province for day-trips only since Aug. 1.
 
Right now, New Brunswick limits who is allowed to enter the province. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Other approved reasons for entry include:

  • travelling through New Brunswick to reach another destination.
  • returning home to New Brunswick.
  • work-related travel.
  • child custody arrangements in New Brunswick.
  • moving to New Brunswick to take up residence.
  • travel related to medical appointment.
  • resident of the Atlantic provinces 
  • visiting immediate family in New Brunswick.
  • property ownership in New Brunswick.
  • travelling to pick up/drop off student.
  • attending a funeral.
  • compassionate exemption.
Once someone has completed a 14-day isolation in one of the Atlantic provinces, however, they are welcome to enter New Brunswick, confirmed Department of Public Safety spokesperson Geoffrey Downey.

New Brunswick has six active cases of COVID-19, all temporary foreign workers in Moncton who immediately went into self-isolation upon arrival.

The province has recorded 176 cases of the respiratory disease since the pandemic began in mid-March. Two people have died and 168 have recovered.
 
New Brunswick has six active cases of COVID-19, and the province has had a total of 176 cases since the pandemic started in March. (CBC)

Higgs has said the resurgence of the virus some jurisdictions have seen is "very concerning," and any expansion must be done with caution with the start of the school year around the corner.

"We want to be able to continue to get kids back to school and not be in a situation that we've seen a resurgence of the virus in advance of that, or certainly during," he told reporters on July 30, during the Quebec bubble announcement.


"So I would say, you know, we go through this 14 days, we'll look at other provinces and see where they're going, are they trending up, trending down. And then we look again at the prospects of how we can open."
 
Higgs said he doesn't want to see a resurgence of the virus as school starts. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Nova Scotia is looking into possible ways opening up could work, but is "not there yet," Premier Stephen McNeil has said.

No decision has been made by P.E.I. either.

Last week, the Island began allowing recreational visits by family members of residents who are Canadian citizens or have permanent residency status, but who live outside Atlantic Canada, provided they self-isolate for 14 days.

In June, P.E.I. opened its borders to family members of Islanders in need of support, such as those living in long-term care, as well as to seasonal residents.

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador and its Public Health officials are in regular discussions with federal, provincial and territorial partners on pan-Canadian strategies related to COVID-19, including border measures, according to a Department of Health and Community Services spokesperson.

"No decision has been made relating to any further lifting of the current travel ban," she said in an emailed statement.

"Newfoundland and Labrador's borders are closely monitored and protocols for entry are strictly enforced as they relate to the Atlantic Canada Bubble. One of these protocols is the requirement for persons travelling to provide proof of residency in Atlantic Canada."






327 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.





David Amos
Methinks there is more to follow N'esy Pas? 







David Amos
Welcome Back to the Circus


Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Gomer ???


David Amos 

Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks Higgy et al are well ware of what my hero Yosemite Sam would say to my favourite clown at the circus going on and on and on in Chucky's beloved old maison up in Fat Fred City N'esy Pas?


Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: You still the feature act in the freek tent in said Circus? 
 

David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks may would agree that you should be the star of the show if the RCMP would tell your real name N'esy Pas?




























John Gerrits
As Elmer would say..."be cafewl...be vewy,vewy cafewl



David Amos

Content disabled
Reply to @John Gerrits: Gomer would say "Surprise Surprise Surprise"
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Thanks Gomer .


David Amos

Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: How many butter tarts did you bake this week for all the doings this weekend?


Justin Gunther 
More controlled release of info 6 weeks after its relevant in order to create the appearance of transparency and accountability.

We're very glad Higgy knew all along and the CBC squandered dozens of opportunities to tell us. We much prefer copy/paste articles telling us there are no new infections.



Lou Bell 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: The outsiders were required to self isolate for 14 days in Nova Scotia , and then could travel to other locations in the bubble . Obviously it's working ! Your concern ? I suspect nothing reasonable !


Justin Gunther  
Reply to @Justin Gunther: How hard would it have been to say, "The reason you're seeing so many non-bubble plates is because Nova Scotia blah blah blah??" There was like a two week period on these boards when numerous people were going ballistic over this and you chose to not tell us because we're dumb for not knowing to begin with.

We know you read the boards Higgy. Nice mask BTW.



Justin Gunther  
Reply to @Lou Bell: !!!!!!!! Partisan politics !!!!! !!!

!!!!!



Lou Bell  
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Yeah , your statements are !


Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Lou Bell: Oh yeah man I'm a card carrying Lib don'tcha know.


Lou Bell  
Reply to @Justin Gunther: I'm not associated with any party . After what the Liberals pulled off their attempted undisclosed 130 million dollar " withdrawal " of taxpayer money it has become very obvious they're cowtowing and run by one group of people in the minority and represent no one else ! Higgs has shown he has enough common sense to get NB's economy in order ! Other than the selfish who wanna leave a huge debt to future generations , most NB'ers believe he's been doing a great job ! You've had nothing good tom say about anything he's done since coming to office , so obviously you've an agenda !!


Justin Gunther
Reply to @Lou Bell: I don't hate Higgsy I suspect he's a man in a tough spot I just don't know how he got himself there. For many he will be the face of a transition to a more authoritarian form of communicating and governing.

I don't like the culture of "we leave the people floundering because we don't have to tell them so why would we?"



Lou Bell  
Reply to @Justin Gunther: You mean like the UNDISCLOSED 130 million ? Where were you when this was reported ?? Nowhere to be seen !


Lou Bell 
Reply to @Lou Bell: Or how about the " satellite office " in Saint John ? Vote buying 101 !


Lou Bell  
Reply to @Lou Bell: Obviously got Gerry Lowe the extra votes he needed !


David Amos 

Content disabled
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Methinks Lou is beginning to understand that all her butter tarts are being wasted on Higgy et al Perhaps she will turncoat and throw her hat in the ring for Cardy's old position as leader of the Fake Left N'esy Pas?


Bob McDonald 
Reply to @Lou Bell: I'm from PEI. I got a good laugh driving to Moncton during your election period and seeing all of those "Stop the Gallant Carbon Tax" signs. What has Higgs done to get rid of that since you guys think he's doing so great on his platform he promised you.


Dan Stewart 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Pretty much any out of bubble cars in this province have been allowed in by our own province. They cross our provincial boundaries daily. Most vehicles would have to pass through NB it get to NS and it's highly unlikely they are running in droves to NS, isolating for 14 days just to be able to visit NB. I suspect the vast majority of those arriving in NS from away fly there without their cars..


Dan Stewart
Reply to @Bob McDonald: Higgs is the best Liberal the PC's have ever elected. He even dithered over cancelling Lou's favourite talking point Games..


Bob McDonald
Reply to @Dan Stewart: I assumed Higgs, the Irving Executive, was there so the Irving Family can continue their goal of fully owning a Canadian province all to themselves.


Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Lou Bell: I was somewhere in Fredericton not giving a crep about provincial politics because I was younger and had other things going on.


Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: I will also add something changed distinctly in about late 2017 for me, when it became clear to me there was something drastically and immediately wrong with the messaging coming out of news outlets everywhere.

I've been an American news junkie for well over a decade now.



Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Something changed in Fredericton too all people being honest.


Dan Stewart 
Reply to @Bob McDonald: Irving has been accused of aspiring to run the province for ever and while in certain sectors they hold a lot of sway you know that really isn't in the stars. When it comes to provincial government's, they always have and always will pay close attention to Irvings needs and actions as they would to any employer of that size.


Bob McDonald 
Reply to @Dan Stewart: Who owns basically all of the local news in New Brunswick? Do you think Irving decided it was a good investment owning all the local news so they would be able to influence public opinion with regards to the handouts the provincial Governments give them?


Dan Stewart   
Reply to @Bob McDonald: Do you get all your news from the local news papers in New Brunswick? I haven't for years...


Bob McDonald
Reply to @Dan Stewart: If you live in New Brunswick you certainly do get your news from those local outlets. Even the national news outlets get their stories from the local outlets. You never answered my question, why did the Irving Family decide it was a good investment owning all of the news outlets in New Brunswick?


David Amos
Reply to @Bob McDonald: A McDonald arguing with a Stewart while the Crown does in us again and controls the narrative as well? Too Too Funny

Methinks nothing should shock a certain son of my Father's Clan or the Chief of mine N'esy Pas?. 


David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: "I'm not associated with any party"

WOW Now that was Doozy































SarahRose Werner
The Atlantic bubble has been open for five weeks. During that time we have yet to identify any cases in New Brunswick that have their origin in people from other parts of Canada who self-isolated for 14 days in Nova Scotia and then came to New Brunswick. Sound to me like using Nova Scotia as a quarantine location is working well for us.


Justin Gunther
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: "It's working," true or not, is a pragmatic response to this situation that sidesteps the fact that our government actively chooses to communicate with us selectively in ways that are obnoxious.


David Amos 
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Yea Right




























doug kirby
Nb is opened...Quebec is allowed it doesn’t matter that it’s only a certain region the bottom line is he opened it....so did nl...and pei brought in massive amounts of soccer players outside the bubble...so regardless what he says or thinks or reports....Atlantic Canada is opened....pretty hard trying to convince anyone it’s not now


David Amos
Reply to @doug kirby: I concur


SarahRose Werner 
Reply to @doug kirby: The terms "open" and "closed" have always been misnomers. Even when the state of emergency was first declared, essential workers could still enter New Brunswick. (That's how our food gets delivered, after all.) It would be more accurate to say that the border was and remains *restricted*. These restrictions have been loosened gradually over time. I expect that they'll continue to do so.


Stanley Kerr 
Reply to @doug kirby: Take down the Checkpoint Charlies then.


doug kirby 
Reply to @Stanley Kerr: naw nb just loves paying the overtime for the people working...the ones I know love it so keep it there




























Angela Granchelli
Really irks me as a resident of Nova Scotia. And clearly the reason they made masks mandatory which I think could have been on hold for a month at least, maybe longer, is because our government knows letting people in puts us at risk. Unacceptable. Do better. No wonder Newfoundlanders don't want Nova Scotians to visit at the moment. I would love to be heading to Newfoundland right now but Nova Scotia lax border rules have axed that possibility. Sad.


David Amos 

Content disabled
Reply to @Angela Granchelli: Methinks the questionable "Peace Officers" in Higgy's Police State know that you are not alone in feeling very irked N'esy Pas?


Dan Stewart 
Reply to @Angela Granchelli: As a Nova Scotian why would you be not allowed to vidit NFLD if you want?


James Roscoe 
Reply to @Angela Granchelli: university students will start to return later this month from all over. Much of the upticks elsewhere in Canada have been due to parties, especially in youth. I think there is definitely some risk of this happening in NS also in Sept, but with reasonable practice already in place the virus spread will be reduced.

We are noticing a big difference here where parties caused an uptick, but the rate of spread now is way lower than in April. Masks, mass testing, tracing seem to work and businesses can stay open. We had mandatory masks long before NS, as it is useful in a dense urban setting. How do you keep 6' radius in stores with aisles not even that wide? Just makes sense.

I think NS has handled it well. Sure, population density is low, but with school soon to open, the province is in generally good shape. Probably wise to continue on the same course. 



Angela Granchelli
Reply to @Dan Stewart: the Newfoundlanders I've spoken with have let me know they don't feel comfortable so I will wait until that gets better. As well, there is no safe way to get there as you could be on a plane with people from anywhere, and really same for the ferry. I was hoping to go over on the ferry in fact, but you are not allowed up on the deck in the fresh air which to me would be the safest possible place and where I usually spend much of the crossing. Just doesn't seem good on any front. Spring I guess. It is what it is. I surely do not want to contribute to make people on the island feel less safe. It will settle out in time.


Dan Stewart
Reply to @Angela Granchelli: Ahh, then you can go if you want.. You just don't want... Thats not the same as Can't...


James Roscoe 
Reply to @Angela Granchelli: Yes, that is an issue with planes as you could be sitting near someone who transferred from a non-bubble flight. That could be a problem if they are ill and if you don't need to isolate.

I do think though that some are over reacting, and also that divisive regionalism has thrived in the current environment. It is unfortunate, but it also unfortunate that others are behaving in a completely care-free manner. Wouldn't it be great if everyone was sensible?














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