N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Higgs sees approval rating drop to record low 38%
CBC
Premier Blaine Higgs's approval rating has dropped to an all-time low amid record high COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths that followed all Public Health restrictions being lifted and the province being opened up, a new poll suggests.
The Angus Reid Institute poll ranking the popularity of the provincial premiers shows Higgs has suffered a "precipitous" drop to 38 per cent, from 55 per cent in June.
This "is mirrored by the soaring number of COVID-19 cases across the province," Angus Reid said in a statement Wednesday, when the poll was released.
"With over 1,000 active cases reported in the province, hospitals have announced that they're postponing some non-urgent procedures and moving their internal readiness level to 'red alert.' "
The institute noted New Brunswick was the first province to pop out of the Atlantic bubble, "opening itself up to the rest of Canada before its neighbours in June."
In May, Higgs's support stood at 80 per cent.
On July 30 at 11:59 p.m., the province moved to the green phase of COVID-19 recovery and removed the mandatory order before reaching its goal to have 75 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated, when only 66.7 per cent were double-dosed.