Moncton 
New Brunswick is banning indoor dining, gyms, entertainment centres, spas and salons as all of the province is moving to Level 3 of the COVID-19 winter plan.
Effective Friday, Jan. 14th at 11:59 p.m., social gatherings and public gatherings are not allowed, and religious gatherings can only be held outdoors or as a drive-in.
Outdoor activities are allowed but ski lodges and warm-up shelters, must maintain 50 per cent capacity.
These measures will be in effect at least until Jan. 30 at 11:59 p.m.
“Introducing these additional measures is not a step anyone wanted to take, but we promised we would take action when action was needed, and that time is now,” said Premier Blaine Higgs announcing the new measures. “Based on the rising number of hospitalizations, this is what we need to do to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant and mitigate the impact on our health-care system. This will also give us more time to administer booster doses and vaccinate children aged five to 11.”
List of Restrictions under Level 3 of COVID-19 Winter Plan
Gatherings:
- People must stay within their single-household bubble.
- A single-household bubble includes the people you live with. Where required, this can be extended to include: caregivers; a family member who needs support from someone within the household; or one other person who needs support (for example, someone who lives alone, or another family member).
- A single-household bubble may extend care to children from another household for the purposes of informal daycare or online education support. This must be the same household bubble for as long as Level 3 is in effect.
- Public gatherings are not permitted.
- Faith venues may provide outdoor, virtual or in-car religious services only.
Businesses:
- Gyms, entertainment centres, spas and salons are not allowed to operate.
- Restaurants may provide drive-thru, takeout and delivery only.
- Retail businesses may continue to remain open at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing measures in place.
Sports & Outdoor Activities:
- Organized team sports are prohibited from games, competition and practice with people outside of a household bubble.
- Individual sports that can be conducted outdoors, such as skiing, skating and snowmobiling, are permitted as long as distancing is maintained from those outside of a household bubble.
- Buildings that support outdoor sports, such as ski lodges and warm-up shelters, must maintain 50 per cent capacity, distancing and masking. Food and drinks cannot be served.
- Masks must still be worn at all times in indoor public spaces and in outdoor public spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
These restrictions come as the province reported four new deaths, nine people in intensive care and another 95 in hospital for a total of 104 people hospitalized with COVID-19. Of these, 47 were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19.
New Brunswick Public Health says seventy-eight per cent of those in ICU are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it has been more than six months since their second dose. Of those in hospitals, 76 are over 60 and three people are on a ventilator. Three people 19 and under are hospitalized.
