Coming up on the CHMA daily news roundup:
-a controversial new development may be back in Sackville
-and a conversation with Mount A’s recent winner of the Paul Paré Medal.
But first:
There are now 12 active cases of COVID-19 in the New Brunswick, all in the Campbellton region.
Three people are in hospital, with one in intensive care.
Four of the twelve people with COVID-19 are residents of a long term care home, and another works at the home.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell says that the worker did not work at any other care homes.
Russell says that all close contacts of cases are now self-isolating, and that the next 14 days will be important throughout the province:
AUDIO clip Russell
So we have a two week period ahead of us where we’re going to be watching very, very carefully what is happening in that region and also around the province because we know that people have left that region since the time that there has been transmission of COVID-19. So again, every corner of the province needs to be vigilant. Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 in themselves and their families and friends, and please call 811 and get tested if you have to have the symptoms that we have on our list of seven Tim’
New Brunswick’s testing ramped up extensively over the weekend, with nearly 2500 new test results announced Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
That’s nearly double the previous average.
1,274 test results came in from the Campbellton region, where asymptomatic testing has been happening.
Russell says that in the group of asymptomatic tests, there were no positive cases found.
After the weekend of increased testing, Russell says New Brunswick will move back to only testing when two symptoms from the list are presented.
Previously, Russell had asked those with one symptom on the list to get tested, in order to keep testing numbers high.
Russell encouraged New Brunswickers in other parts of the province to be aware that the risk of outbreaks will be with us for a long time, up to two years, until a vaccine is found and distributed.
AUDIO
All new brunswickers must remain vigilant and work together to slow the spread in our province. And I understand that this causes a lot of anxiety and frustration, people would say We’ve come so far we’ve done so much work we’ve achieved so much success and and now this, well, this is part of the process. This is part of the two year process until we get a vaccine. So we have to be cognizant of the fact that we don’t live on an island, we can’t shut our borders completely. And as long as there are cases outside of our jurisdiction, we are always going to be at risk for more clusters and more outbreaks
Premier Blaine Higgs says that there will be no changes to New Brunswick’s border policy, such as a Maritime bubble, for several weeks.
AUDIO higgs
So at this point in time, our borders will remain strong. I mean, we will continue the due diligence and even heighten that, to understand who’s crossing and why and they’re following the protocol. Any changes to that would not be forthcoming in the next week or two or three. I would say that, you know, we’re going to have to see things not only improving the norm But we’re gonna have to see stability throughout the province. And then that discussion will will happen with with other provinces public health across the country and in other provinces and make those decisions.
On Sunday, Nova Scotia reported no new cases of COVID-19 for the second day in a row. There are now 15 active cases of the disease in the province, with 14 of those at a long term care home in Halifax.
Nova Scotia has increased its list of symptoms that qualify for testing, and is asking anyone with one or more symptoms to call 811.
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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Ottawa is earmarking millions of dollars to promote holiday travel inside Canada as it seeks to help the tourism industry weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds announced by Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly on Sunday include $30 million originally earmarked for attracting foreign visitors through the federal tourism marketing agency, Destination Canada.
The money will instead be used to help provinces and territories encourage Canadians to discover their “own backyard” as the country’s international borders remain largely closed due to COVID-19.Â
The government is also setting aside around $40 million to support tourism agencies in southern and northern Ontario and western Canada.
She added talks around supporting the tourism industries in Quebec and Atlantic Canada are underway.
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Finally on today’s roundup:
[[pronunciation: Runge rhymes with grunge]]
Dr. Stephen Runge is a celebrated pianist, professor, and the head of Mount Allison’s Department of Music.
The university has just awarded Runge the 2020 Paul Paré Medal. honouring faculty who exemplify outstanding teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activities.
Erica Butler called up Runge to congratulate him, and ask him about his soon-to-be-released new recording, teaching under COVID-19 restrictions, and plans afoot for Mount Allison’s summer music academy.
[AUDIO: INTERVIEW]
That was Erica Butler in conversation with pianist and music professor Dr. Stephen Runge.
That was the CHMA daily news roundup. Today we’ll leave you with a piece from the upcoming recording by Stephen Runge in collaboration with countertenor, Daniel Cabena [Ka-bee-na].
Here are Stephen Runge and Daniel Cabena performing the George Finzi composition, The Dance Continued.
[AUDIO: SONG]
