New Atlantic Bubble

USPA NEWS - The Premiers of Canada's four Atlantic provinces announced on Thursday March 18th, that as of April 19, 2021,  residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland will be able to travel freely within the  provinces without restrictions.

Each Premier cautioned that all public health guidelines within each province must continue to be followed, including wearing a mask in public spaces, hand washing, not traveling if experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and  practicing physical distancing.

The reopening of the Atlantic Bubble is on the condition that COVID-19 case numbers remain low in the region, and if the Atlantic Chief Medical Officers of Health, based on the epidemiology, feel comfortable that it is safe to do so. Each province will also reserve the right to withdraw from the bubble if outbreaks worsen. Travel across provincial borders in Atlantic Canada has been subject to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions since the first Atlantic Bubble was suspended at the end of November, 2020.

The Atlantic provinces  will still allow visitors from other Canadian regions, but they must follow all entry requirements. These  include a 14-day quarantine.  Once this quarantine is completed, these Canadian visitors will be permitted to travel within the region without another self-isolation period.

The Canada-U.S. land border restrictions, that have been in place for the last year, will remain in place for at least one more month. The U.S. Department  of Homeland Security released the following statement on Twitter, "To prevent the further spread of COVID-19, and in coordination with our partners in Canada and Mexico, the United States is extending the restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders through April 21, while ensuring continued flows of essential trade and travel."