New Brunswick workers out West return home to isolate in advance of holidays

New Brunswick workers in Fort McMurray and other parts of western Canada seeing record-high COVID-19 cases are planning their self-isolation in hopes of spending the holidays with their families.

Workersreturning from outside New Brunswickare now subject tostricter rules, unless exempt.

They must self-isolate for 14 days or volunteer to be tested for COVID-19 around five to seven days after their return, test negative and have no symptoms before they can become exempt. Those staying more than 10 days must be tested a second timearound days 10 to 12.

In addition, they can only isolate at home if they have a space that is not shared with other family members.

Alberta continued to break records Wednesday, with nine new deaths and 1,265 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total active cases to13,719 and number of people in hospital to 355.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declared astate of public health emergencyTuesday, along with introducing a slate ofnew restrictionsthat will remain in place for at least three weeks as his government tries to slow the pandemic that has now claimed 500 lives.

"The cases are starting to be all around us," saidLuc David, of Pigeon Hill, who works in Fort McMurray.

He's packing his bags andplanning to drive back to New Brunswick on Thursday evening due to the spread of COVID-19 in thearea.

"It has started to be really dangerous," he said.

When he arrives in New Brunswick, David will isolate for the full 14 days. He has no choice, he said. Two of the people he works with have tested positive.

"The disease can manifest itself in 14 days," he said. "It's not something we want to give to our family."

Davidis considering isolating at a cabin, which he thinks is far better than a labour camp in Alberta.

Cyrille Mallet, of Shippagan,is also thinking of leaving Fort McMurray, describing the situation as "stressful."

Fourteen days in a [labour] camp is tough on morale.- Cyrille Mallet, worker

"It's tiring to work in conditions like this," he said.

Mallet said he too would prefer toreturn to New Brunswick to self-isolate than hole-upin a labour camp, which he has done in the past.

"Fourteen days in a camp is tough on morale," he said. "It's not long before you capsize."

Under the circumstances, Mallet considers himself lucky becausehis house on the Acadian Peninsula isdivided in two.

"I'm going to be good at isolating myself with my dog on one side, and my wife on the other side. Then, at Christmas, we'll be in good shape," he said.

New travel rules

The stricter isolation rules for travelling workers donot apply to truckers or daily commuters.

They also don't apply to people travelling into the province under the authority of an operational plan approved by WorkSafeNB, as this already involves a work-isolation requirement.

Premier Blaine Higgs announced other changes to travel rules Thursday.Effective at midnight, people travelling into New Brunswick, including from any of the Atlantic provinces, are required to self-isolate for 14 days, unless exempt, he said.

Registration for travel into New Brunswick, including by New Brunswickers returning home from travel, is also now mandatory. Travellers must register on the provincial government's website or could face penalties.