FOG BLOG NB COVID LOG: PREMIER-' VERY COMMITED' TO RETURNING TO LEVEL 2 JAN 30TH:

N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 4 more deaths, record-high 123 hospitalizations.....4 people 19 or under among those hospitalized with COVID, parents urged to get children vaccinated.....

1st shipment of Pfizer pill 'like spitting on a house fire,' says Shephard
Volunteers step up

The New Brunswick government is "very committed" to its timeline of returning to Level 2 of the COVID-19 winter plan no later than Jan. 30 at 11:59 p.m., says Premier Blaine Higgs. And it's asking New Brunswickers to "do everything they can" to make that happen, Higgs said in an emailed statement Tuesday. He did not say whether the 16-day lockdown could be extended, based on Public Health's advice. The province moved to Level 3, the most restrictive level of the COVID plan, last Friday at 11:59 p.m., to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and allow time for more people to get vaccinated or boosted against the virus. Higgs announced the move the previous day, citing what was then a record-high 104 COVID hospitalizations and a hospital system in "crisis." "We made a decision to follow Public Health's advice and move to Level 3 of the winter plan in order to mitigate the risks currently facing the provincial health-care system," Higgs said in the statement, noting the decision followed consultations with cabinet and the COVID cabinet committee. "Our projections showed that if every citizen reduced their contacts by 30 per cent, New Brunswick could lower the forecasted peak of hospitalizations from 220 to about 150 by early February," he said. "We are very committed to our timeline and returning to level two no later than January 30 at 11:59 PM and we are asking all New Brunswickers to do everything they can over these next [11] days to help us reach that goal." As of Tuesday, 113 people are hospitalized with the virus, including 15 in intensive care. Four of them are on ventilators. Wednesday's figures have not yet been released. Under Level 3:

Social gatherings are limited to single household bubbles.
No public gatherings are permitted.
Restaurants are limited to drive-thru, takeout and deliveries only.
Non-essential retail remains at Level 2 restrictions, which include operating at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing measures in place.
Gyms, salons, spas and entertainment centres are closed.
Faith services are allowed only outdoors, virtually, or in-car.
Organized team sports are prohibited from games, competition and practice with people outside of a household bubble.