Newfoundland and Labrador’s chief medical officer of health has lifted the travel ban against non-residents who have secondary properties in the province.
Starting Monday, Aug. 31, people who own houses and cabins will be allowed to enter the province through the travel ban exemption process, but will have to self-isolate for 14 days. They will also have to provide proof that they own property.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said Wednesday the decision is based on the province’s changing epidemiology.
Requirements to prove property ownership will be spelled out on the government’s COVID-19 website, although Fitzgerald said a record of property taxes may be one of the documents needed.
The province’s travel ban has spurred two court challenges based on mobility rights. One of those, launched on behalf of a woman who was initially refused entry to attend her mother’s funeral, has already been heard in court.
The judge’s decision in that case is pending.
When asked why the decision has come now, Fitzgerald said she’s been watching what’s happening in the rest of Canada.
She said cases of COVID-19 were decreasing until a couple of weeks ago when several upticks happened in various regions. She said she’s confident those outbreaks are now under control.
“We feel that that’s holding at this point, she said. “But of course we keep watching to see if it changes, and if it does, then we’ll change, too.”
Geoff Budden, co-counsel in a class action suit launched primarily on behalf of non-resident property owners, said Wednesday the decision will have little effect on his case.
“The harm, unfortunately, for many people has been done,” he said.
“The summer is slipping away, and now, they’re finally doing more or less the right thing on Aug. 26. So a whole summer has been lost for many people.”
Budden said the exemption process also means the province still reserves the right to reverse its decision at will.
“They’ve relaxed it now. Who’s to say they’re not going to tighten it in another couple of weeks?”
Rotational relief
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald and Premier Andrew Furey hinted Wednesday that public health is considering easing restrictions for some rotational workers.
Workers who travel outside the province to work still have to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to the province. Several have pleaded for consideration such as that given in other provinces like P.E.I., which only requires workers to isolate for a few days between two COVID-19 tests.
“We’re trying to figure out how we can do that safely and effectively,” Fitzgerald said.
“I think we’ll arrive at something that helps this critical population,” added Furey.
