Discussions surrounding the Atlantic Bubble have been delayed until further notice amid ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Council of Atlantic Premiers made the announcement in a statement released Wednesday evening.
“Premiers agreed that recent outbreaks of COVID-19, accelerated by emerging variants of concern, have made it necessary to maintain restrictions on non-essential travel within the Atlantic region,” said the release.
“Premiers will revisit the re-opening of the Atlantic Travel Bubble when the threat of further outbreaks has been reduced, based on advice from the region’s Chief Medical Officers of Health.”
Nova Scotia was placed under a two-week lockdown as of Wednesday morning as COVID-19 cases spiked over the past week.
In New Brunswick, a lockdown in the northwestern part of the province was lifted Tuesday night, but officials are monitoring a new outbreak at a residence at UNB Fredericton. As of Wednesday, eight cases are linked to the outbreak.
Public Health also announced the first confirmed case of the India variant of COVID-19 in the Fredericton region on Tuesday.
“Premiers remain optimistic that travel within Atlantic Canada will resume by summer, when most Atlantic Canadians have been vaccinated against COVID-19,” said the release.
All four premiers “strongly encourage” all Atlantic Canadians to continue to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
