N.B. COVID-19 roundup: No new cases for 9th straight day, but province isn't ready to 'declare victory'

The province might not have had anyconfirmed cases of COVID-19 for nine straight days,but that doesn't mean New Brunswickers can run rampant.

Last week the province loosened itsphysical distancing restrictions by allowing two-household gatherings or resumingcar poolingif the passengertravels in the backseat

"I'm glad we're able to lessen the restrictions but I want to remind everyone that this is not a freeforall," said Premier Blaine Higgs during Monday's news conference in Fredericton.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health and Premier Higgs both made mention of residents holding neighbourhood and multi-family gatherings.

At the afternoon news conference, they pleaded with New Brunswickersto continue following public health's advice to eliminate the spread of COVID-19.

"Let me be clear. We are nowhere near ready to declare victory over the COVID-19 virus," Russell said.

The province's special telephone line received 758 complaints from people about other residents notfollowing the rules. That number was up from 617 the weekend prior.

Meanwhile, officers are also following up any reports of potential violation on the rules.

Law enforcement issued 22 tickets over the last week out of a total of 77 tickets that have been issued overall since the state of emergency was declared last month.

"Ticketing people is a last resort,"Higgs said."But we will continue to issue them as long as people break the rules. If we all continue to follow the rules, we will be able to enjoy even fewer restrictions in the weeks and months to come."

112 people have recovered from COVID-19

To date, 112 people have recovered from the virus with three people remaining in hospital, none of whom are in anintensive care unit.

Of the 118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, 66are travel-related.

Meanwhile, 42are close contacts of confirmed cases and 10are the result of community transmission.

Here's a roundup of other developments.

Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival cancels 30th anniversary

Downtown Fredericton is going to be much quieterinSeptember than it has been for three decades.

Organizers have called off the 30th anniversary of theHarvest Jazz & Blues Festival, following the province's decisionto bar mass gatherings until the end of the yearas part of its four-phase recovery plan from COVID-19.

"It comes as a heavy blow," said Brent Staeben, music director for Harvest Jazz & Blues.

"We were pretty much ready to roll out [the lineup]."

The event has beenpostponed until 2021, or whenever it's safe to bring back the festival, which takes place for a week every September in New Brunswick's capital.

Staeban spent all dayFriday contacting music booking agencies across North America, warning of the cancellation.

He said agencies were understanding and not surprised.

"The music industry is upside down right now."

Staeban would not release the names of the 2020 performers he'd lined up but said he was "very proud" of the lineup.

"We had a lot of expectations coming out of last year's festival it would have been very difficult to top Robert Plant and Lucinda Williams and Nathaniel Rateliff in one festival again," Staeban said plans for 2020.

"But the analogy I use is that the peaks may not have been as high, but the mountain range was bigger and had a lot more mountains."

Last year, the music festival saw up to 100,000 visitors from across North America.

• Demographics, distancing and dumb luck: How N.B. avoided a worst-case COVID-19 scenario

In a post-COVID-19-restricted world, Staeban said, some components of Harvest and other festivals may need to be readjusted, such as the number of people allowed inside a music tent and whether food and alcohol can be served safely.

Fredericton teen plays violin for her great grandmother during pandemic

4 years ago

Duration 1:47

This Fredericton teenager has been playing violin from a distance for her great grandmother who is almost 102 years old.

"What Harvest has to do now is sit back and understand how the industry is changing and do everything we can to protect the legacy and history we've built for this community."

Those who have alreadybought ultimate passes will be able to get a refund, he said, although many subscribers have asked the festival simply to move their passes to 2021.

Beaches are open butplaygrounds remain closed

During Monday's news conference, Premier Blaine Higgs reiterated that beaches and parks are open to the public as long as people maintain a two metre distance from other households.

Playgrounds in provincial and municipalparks, as well as school grounds and any other public playgrounds are still closed.

"The risk of transmission within this setting is just too high," Higgs said. "It's a risk we should not take at this time."

Snow crab fishers adjust to COVID-19 restrictions

The first snow crab landings of the season happened Sunday in the Acadian Peninsula.The snow crab season started a few weeks late because of the pandemic and will continue until July 1.

At the Caraquet wharf on Sunday, the A. J. Chiasson landed about 12,000 pounds of crab.

Jonathan Chiasson, the captain,saidthe crew could have brought in more but had an agreement with the processing plant where he delivers his cargo.

"The first few days, they didn't want to fill the factory to capacity at first. So they put quotas of 15,000 pounds per boat," he told Radio-Canada in French.

Factories are now required to observe additional protective measures to protect the health and safety of their workers, and avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, ships also have to adapt.

Crew members have to have their temperatures taken in the morning and evening.

"There is a protocol in place if there is a case [of COVID-19] that comes on board," said Chiasson.

At the wharf, the workers responsible for landings also have to wear masks.

"It's an adjustment, saidRandy Chiasson, an employee of Pcheries St-Paul, a Bas-Caraquet company.

"There is sweat it is not easy to work and move a lot at the same time. We will adapt."

But while fishermen continue to adapt, there are other challenges on the horizon.

The return of the endangered North Atlantic right whales to the Gulf of St. Lawrence could force certain fishing areas to close.

Although this prospect could encourage fishermen to intensify their fishing to reach their quota sooner,Chiasson said factories can only process so much crab at a time with the measures that are currently in place.

Canada post sees Christmas-level parcel deliveries

Christmas might be eight months away, but Canada Post is seeingparceldeliveries similar to the holiday season.

That's because many Canadians are isolating at home and spending more time online shopping, Canada Post said in a news release.

On April 20, the Crown corporation delivered more than 1.8 million parcels to Canadians.

"That's similar to the biggest delivery days we see during the Christmas season."

Canada Post is advising customers to expect delays with their parcel deliveries. The combination of heavy parcel volumes and safety measures, means it takes longer to process.

To eliminate customer interactions at the door, Canada Post hasimplemented a "knock, drop and go" approach.

Delivery employees knock or ring, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address.

"This change eliminates the need for signatures at the door, speeds up delivery and has greatly reduced the number of parcels sent to our post offices for pickup," the news release said.

Canada Post has also delayed its 15-day hold period at the post office. Those parcels will not be returned to senders until further notice.

Grade 12 students can get early start on post-secondary studies

The provincial government, in partnership with the University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University and the Universit de Moncton, is encouraging Grade 12 students to enrolin distance learning, which will be offered through the spring and summer intersession courses.

"If students have the opportunity to excel, that should be encouraged," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy.

"That is why we are working with our partners to ensure interested Grade 12 students accepted into one of the province's publicly-funded universities can begin working towards completing their post-secondary programs."

With parental consent, students who are on track to graduate in June canenrol in intersession courses to accrue credits toward their degree starting this fall. This would be concurrent with their obligations to complete the public-school year.

The universitycourses will be available online with no physical attendance required and standard intersession fees will apply.

Once enrolled in these courses, students of the public education system would be obliged to abide by any policies or requirements of the university offering the course.

Golf courses slowly reopen but with new restrictions

Some outdoor spaces, such as parks,beaches and golf coursesopened on the weekend after the government said it was OK as part of the recovery plan announced Friday.

But a golf course in the Saint John area has decided to remain closed.

Alastair Barr has owned and operated the Welsford Golf Course for 25 years.

He had planned to open the courseon May 18, and won't be changing that date now. He wasn't expectinggovernment to allow him to open sooner.

"Getting to open is great, but at the same time it's not like we're going to be able to do business as usual," Barr said.

The government has announced several precautionsgolf courses must enforce if they want to reopen for the season.

Players must book a time online to play. No food and beverages can be served.

Courses also have to raise the cups on the green, so that a player doesn't have to put a hand in the hole to extract the golf ball.

Some golf courses, like Carmen Creek Golf Course in Fredericton, have already opened.

What to do if you have symptoms

People concerned they might haveCOVID-19 cantake a self-assessmenton the government website. Symptoms of coronavirus include fever,a new or worseningcough,andbreathlessness, as well as sore throat, headache andrunny nose. People with two of those symptoms are asked to:

• Stay at home.

• Immediately call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions.