Early Atlantic pandemic bubble travellers face long lineups
Atlantic Canadians are now free to travel among Canada's four eastern provinces without self-isolating to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, but that doesn't mean the process is easy.
The so-called Atlantic bubble opened one minute after midnight AT as part of the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Travellers still had to wait to go through checkpoints, however.
Prince Edward Island public safety officials reported 300 to 400 vehicles crossed into P.E.I. over the Confederation Bridge within the first 90 minutes of the bubble opening. Cars then continued to cross the bridge in waves.
Not long after first light, long lineups of vehicles could be seen at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border, and traffic was backed up at the New Brunswick off-ramp from the Confederation Bridge.
Each province has its own specific rules.
New Brunswick is allowing commercial traffic to flow freely. Non-commercial travellers are being asked to show proof of residency, fill out a form, and answer health-screening questions. Travellers' contact information is also being collected.
People arriving on P.E.I. are being told to print and complete a form with residency and health questions filled out in advance. New Brunswick officials are reporting that process is taking a few minutes for each vehicle.
No form is required for Nova Scotia, but travellers are required to show proof of residency in Atlantic Canada. Commercial travellers are able to apply for a pass to be waved through checkpoints.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, two pieces of identification are required to show proof of residence in Atlantic Canada, and travellers must provide contact information. No health screening questions are being asked.
With no land connection to the rest of Atlantic Canada, things are quieter at Newfoundland and Labrador's border points. As the bubble opens, however, a petition has begun to circulate against expanding it any further.
Keen to travel
Rose Cooper of Wheatley River, P.E.I., was up early Friday, and heading to Miramichi, N.B.
"We're going home to visit our family. We haven't seen them for a long time," said Cooper.
"I'm especially excited to see my Mom. She's 87. It's going to be good to reconnect."
New Brunswick Public Safety Minister Carl Urquhart said the long queues are not a surprise in the early hours of the bubble, because people are anxious to move.
"They wanted to get in and get their summer started," said Urquhart.
There are currently six active cases of COVID-19 in Atlantic Canada, a region of 2.2 million people.
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