Enforcement efforts underway to ensure compliance to Mandatory Order

The City of Saint John is advising all residents that enforcement of the provincial Mandatory Order is underway as part of the response to Zone 2 (Saint John area) going to level orange. Enforcement will help ensure compliance to the Mandatory Order, by both individuals and businesses/organizations, as the region responds to the rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Residents are reminded that it is now mandatory to wear a face mask in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors. As detailed on the Government of New Brunswick website, this includes parks, playgrounds, markets, festival sites, dog parks, and walking trails. A mask is not required while walking, jogging or cycling with people in the same bubble, where they are unlikely to encounter people, or risk coming within two metres of, people from outside their bubble.

“It is important for our communities to work together to slow the spread of the virus,” says Saint John Mayor Don Darling. “The provincial government has put the Mandatory Order in effect to keep us safe and support recovery efforts. Failure to comply with the Order puts public health at risk, and will have significant impacts on our path to recovery. My hope is that everyone in our city and neighbouring communities will do all they can to keep themselves and each other healthy and well so that we can recover back to the yellow level as quickly as possible.”

Numerous public safety and law enforcement agencies are involved in enforcement efforts, patrolling and enforcing from Sussex to St Stephen.

Fines for non-compliance are as follows: Violations (non-compliance to Mandatory Order) - $292; and Appearance Notices (to businesses for non-compliance of an Operational Plan to compliance to Mandatory Order) - $10,100.

A toll-free provincial information line and email address has been set up to help answer non-health related questions, including questions about compliance with the state of emergency. The number, 1-844-462-8387, is operational seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The email address is helpaide@gnb.ca. Concerns about workplace safety should be directed to WorkSafeNB.

For further information including important health-related Q&As, travel-related directives, NB’s response, and the recovery plan, visit www.gnb.ca/coronavirus.