Move to looser Level 1 COVID-19 restrictions sees range of reactions
CBC
New Brunswickers woke up Saturday to a reduced range of COVID-19 restrictions.
The province moved to Level 1 of the COVID-19 winter plan, the least restrictive level, on Friday at 11:59 p.m.
It's "a major step towards reducing and eliminating restrictions as we prepare to ease out of our winter plan over the coming weeks," Premier Blaine Higgs said in a statement.
Some New Brunswickers welcome the changes. Others are taking a more cautious approach, as the province continues to record daily COVID-related deaths, hospitalizations and cases remain high, and a new Omicron subvariant is starting to circulate. Then there are those who would like to see a further loosening of measures.
The Diocese of Saint John is looking forward to the return of singing in faith venues, said communications officer Natasha Mazerolle.
"People are really, really excited," especially at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, she said.
"It's just very much an expression of who we are as a faith community, of our prayer. And also, it engages the congregation to be able to respond and not just to listen to the words.
"The singing is also a prayer, so it helps for people to be able to feel more a part of what's going on."
Under Level 2, singing had been restricted to a soloist, a minimum of four metres from the congregation.
The province amended Level 1 guidance to permit singing in places of worship, even if those in attendance are not required to show proof of full vaccination or medical exemption. Masking is still required.
Faith venues that don't require proof of vaccination must still operate at 50 per cent capacity, ensure physical distancing, and collect names of attendees by row or have an assigned seating plan.
With singing, "just to be able to kind of have that one more step back to normal, I think and to participate in our faith, I think, will be a real comfort for people," said Mazerolle.
The eased restrictions might also help boost attendance, she said.
"We're always hopeful that those who have been staying away for so long will maybe give it a try and see that, you know, they have been missed and that we're doing everything that we can to keep people safe.
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