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.
As of 5:30 p.m., officials said they had received more than 5,200 declarations from people wanting to come to the Island, and the number continues to rise.
Just after sunup, 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.
By 6:30 p.m. there were no lineups to enter P.E.I., as seen from the entrance checkpoint in Borden-Carleton, P.E.I. Traffic seen on a government highway camera was backed up in Amherst, N.S.
Each province has its own specific rules.
