COVID-19: How it’s affecting life in Fredericton

Empty shelves are what Fredericton residents would have found at stores last weekend.

In reaction to the latest news about the COVID-19 coronavirus, shoppers flocked to their local grocery stores to stockpile items like toilet paper, plastic gloves and water.

Grocery stores like Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys have placed handwashing stations at the entrances of many locations across the province. Sobeys also plans to install plexiglass protection at registers to keep cashiers safe.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, confirmed the province’s first case of the disease on March 11. She told reporters the individual had been travelling internationally and is under self-quarantine.

On March 19, Premier Blaine Higgs declared a state of emergency. The ruling declared all non-essential services like public and private schools, shopping malls, hair and nail salons, bars and restaurants to close immediately to stop the spread of the virus. Exceptions to this rule are grocery stores, transportation services, gas stations and emergency services.

Fredericton Transit is operating on its hourly Saturday schedule and will no longer collect bus fare from riders. Passengers are asked to board buses from the back door.

As of March 21, the province has 17 cases — eight are presumptive and nine are confirmed. Russell said the majority of individuals were exposed through contact with other cases or through cruise ships.

In multiple press conferences, both Russell and Higgs made a point to residents that they should not panic.

“I know that you are concerned, but people going out and stockpiling is unnecessary,” said Russell.

“I am convinced we can beat this challenge,” said Higgs. “But we do it through exercising a rational thought process.”

Since the pandemic began, Higgs said the province’s 811 telecare line has received 800 to 1000 calls per day. He said it’s vital that people should only call telecare if they’re showing symptoms. A self-analysis tool was launched on the province’s website to help ease the number of calls to 811.

“If you do not have symptoms, do not tie up our health system,” said Higgs. “We cannot overload our system.”

Higgs added if residents abide by information released by health officials, there won’t be panic. He encouraged New Brunswickers to continually wash their hands, practice social distancing and support their loved ones.

“I know New Brunswickers want what is best for their families … no one comes together better than New Brunswickers during a challenge,” he said.

Kim Grantham is just one of many Fredericton residents taking precautions to keep her family safe at this time.

“We’re just making sure everyone washes their hands after they touch anything,” she said. “I work at a manor, so I make sure that when I come home, I change [my clothes] right away.”

Grantham said she doesn’t see the point of all the cancellations COVID-19 has caused.

“It’s a little ridiculous,” she said. “It’s proven that there are more accidents than people dying from this.”

In an interview with STU Journalism outside the Regent Mall, resident Darlene Mason said it’s something that worries her.

“It’s almost like we’re living in a movie,” she said. “It’s very scary.”

Mason said she wanted to make a stop at Walmart to fill her cart with essentials to be on the safe side. She said any precautions are good ones.

“I don’t think it’s overboard, I think it’s for everybody’s safety sake,” she said. “We probably shouldn’t really even be here [at the store] tonight.”

Affected students

In response to the threat of COVID-19, Dominic Cardy, minister of education and early childhood development, announced on March 20 all public schools would remain closed until further notice. The decision would be reassessed in April. Many events and conferences are also being cancelled or postponed.

A group of students from Bliss Carmen Middle School and Fredericton High School were at the Regent Mall when they found out the news.

Kathleen Papineau is a grade eight student at Bliss Carmen. She said while she’s excited about an additional break, she is concerned for her family’s safety.

“My dad’s a truck driver, and he goes to the US for a living, so they said that I might not be able to see him for a few months,” she said. “If I see someone that went outside of Canada, I’d have to be quarantined for two weeks.”

“I probably won’t be able to see my dad until this whole coronavirus thing is over.”

Zane Hicks, also from Bliss Carmen, feels the extra two weeks off will be beneficial for students in the province.

“I’m not worried about missing school since it will give us more time to catch up on work and study,” he said.

On March 13, St. Thomas University and the University of New Brunswick announced they would suspend in-person classes immediately and begin remote instruction on March 23. It came after allegations that two presumptive cases of the virus were students at UNB.

Both schools said Friday while residence buildings, meal halls and other university buildings would remain open, students have the option to move out of residence early. But on March 16, the universities emailed students requiring them to move out by March 17 at 5:00 p.m.

Gabriela Buraglia, a first-year STU student, shared a room in Vanier Hall this year with her close friend, Ashley Robinson. Buraglia said while she understands why the school made the decision, it’s hard to believe.

“I wasn’t mentally prepared to go home yet,” she said. “I was going to use the next month to get myself ready for it.”

Buraglia moved out of her residence Sunday afternoon, which she said was bittersweet.

“It feels weird knowing that I won’t be living in Vanier anymore,” she said.

Many students feel uneasy about moving out so early in the year.

Jacob Moore, a first-year STU student living in Harrington Hall, said he isn’t a fan of the decision to close.

“It doesn’t feel great,” he said. “It’s kind of annoying that the year so unexpectedly ended like this.”