Coming up on the CHMA daily news roundup:
a controversial development resurfaces on Main Street
COVID-19 testing ramps up
and we bring you good news from the Sackville Farmers Market in the latest instalment of The Check-In.
But first:
AUDIO Russell 1:23
Today, there are three new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Again, the new cases are all in zone five. And I would expect based on the contact tracing and the testing that we’re doing, we will see more cases.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell is calling for “understanding, forgiveness and compassion” in the wake of the growing outbreak in the Campbellton region, which appears to have been seeded by a doctor who travelled to Quebec, and rather than self-isolate upon return, continued working at the Campbellton hospital.
There are now six active cases of COVID-19 in the region, including two health care workers who are infected.
There are reports saying as many as 150 people are being tested and asked to self-isolate as close contacts.
Russell says she believes that number will increase.
Russell advised people to keep their circles of close contact small, and to get tested if they’ve travelled to the Campbellton Region.
Premier Blaine Higgs also spoke yesterday:
AUDIO Higgs 9:13
Today, all four house leaders have agreed to during the legislature until June 9. This will allow the all party Cabinet Committee of COVID-19 MLS and government employees to continue to focus on the provinces response to the pandemic while still maintaining government services to the public. Also, it was not appropriate for MLA from the casselton region to attend the legislature at this time
Higgs announced a delay in the further lifting of restrictions due to happen today.
This includes allowing for outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people, indoor religious services with up to 50 people, and the re-introduction of low-contact team sports.
It also includes the opening of swimming pools, water parks, gyms, rinks, yoga and dance studios, and other indoor recreational facilities.
All of these will be delayed one week, until June 5th.
The lifting of the ban on temporary foreign workers scheduled for today will go ahead. Those workers will be required to isolate for 14 days after arriving in New Brunswick.
Testing is starting to ramp up as a result of the Campbellton outbreak.
The region reported 60 news test results yesterday, more than triple the average from the past week.
Province-wide, 397 test results were reported.
That’s the highest daily rate of testing in several weeks.
122 test results were reported from the South East region.
Some people in Sackville say they’re angry over the felling of trees behind an old mansion on Main Street.
However, developer Gordon Beal says the trees were blowing over and needed to come down.
Beal adds that he also wants the town to know how much property he owns behind the mansion that he rents to a number of tenants including local member of the legislature Megan Mitton.
The developer says he may seek approval to build a three-storey apartment building on the cleared land.
Town Council has twice rejected the proposed building partly because it would be close to the Waterfowl Park.
Sackville resident Peter Higham says he complained to town planner Lori Bickford about the clear cut, but was told the town has no bylaws to protect trees on private property.
Higham says the trees were like an old urban forest that attracted many birds including cardinals that are rarely seen in Sackville.
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Nova Scotia has announced the next steps toward reopening the province.
Effective June 5th, most businesses required to close under the public health order can reopen.
Businesses must follow protocols in the plan that is tailored to their sector.
This includes ensuring physical distancing, increased cleaning and other protective measures for staff and customers.
Restaurants, bars, wineries, personal services like hair salons and spas, fitness facilities and veterinarians will be able to reopen after June 5th.
Other health providers like dentists and physiotherapists can also reopen on June 5th, provided they follow protocols in their respective college and association plans, as approved by public health.
Daycares will not reopen until a later date.
Another person has died on New Brunswick roads and highways, bringing the death toll up to 8 for the month of May.
RCMP report that a 41-year-old man died when he lost control of his motorcycle and went off the road near Utopia, New Brunswick.
The massive forest fire in Sabbies River south of Mirimachi is still burning out of control.
New Brunswick forest fire watch says 64 firefighters are working to control the fire which covers 838 hectares of forest.
On average over the past ten years, about 190 hectares of forest have burned in 146 different fires.
So far this season, New Brunswick has seen 218 different fires covering over 1000 hectares of forest.
The Town of Amherst has taken an electrifying step towards a greener environment.
Crews have started installing 260 solar panels on the Amherst Stadium roof.
The panels cover about 33 per cent of the stadium’s roof and are estimated to generate an annual output of about 123,000 kWh.
Mayor David Kogon says the town is very proud of this project.
He says it is another tangible step towards being a greener community and a better steward of the environment.
The installation of the solar array will cost just over $250,000.
It’s the first of three projects Amherst is participating in as part of the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines and Clean Nova Scotia.
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Finally on today’s roundup, Erica Butler brings you another instalment of the Check-In.
Erica speaks with Sackville Farmer’s Market manager Michael Freeman.
Freeman has good news to share with those who have missed their market trips since the COVID-19 shutdown started.
AUDIO:
That was the CHMA daily news roundup.
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