N.L. blizzard: What's open, what's closed and what you can (and can't) do
St. John's allowing stores selling basic food to open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday
After a record-breaking snowfall Friday with snow and rain overnight, eastern Newfoundland residents remain focused on digging out, staying safe and keeping warm.
But as a new work week begins, close to 425 military members will be in the area by Tuesday afternoon, and snow-clearing operations continue, states of emergency in a number of municipalities restrict what residents can and cannot do.
Here's what you need to know to stay safe (and within the law).
The City of St. John's allowed some pharmacies to open Monday, and said all stores selling basic food — like grocery stores and convenience stores — will be allowed to open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. "This excludes bars, restaurants, fast food chains and outlets," the city said in a statement sent 12:45 p.m. Monday.
"Residents, please be prepared to purchase enough food for your family for 48 hours." The city asked people travelling to stores to be extremely careful, and asked motorists to drive slowly.
Operations in Conception Bay South, Random Island West, Wabana, Green's Harbour, Norman's Cove-Long Cove and Chapel Arm have been permitted to go back to normal since they ended their states of emergency over the weekend.
What's open and closed
Under the various states of emergency, residents are strongly urged to remain indoors, off the streets and sidewalks, to allow snow-clearing operations to carry on unimpeded.
⚠️UPDATE⚠️ Patrol Services have passed along that there were <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nltraffic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nltraffic</a> checks completed in the last 24 hours which resulted in tickets being issued in connection with failure to comply with a state of emergency. Please stay off the roads unless in emergency. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYou?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThankYou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YourRNC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YourRNC</a>
—@RNC_PoliceNLResidents who are running low on supplies will have few options in St. John's, where the state of emergency dictates most stores must stay closed. However, grocery stores and pharmacies in nearby communities are open for their residents to replenish necessities.
In St. John's, the city had said pharmacies would not be permitted to open Monday, revising its statement from earlier on Sunday regarding the state of emergency "given the current weather conditions and the addition anticipated snowfall [Sunday] evening."
After a note from Health Minister John Haggie late Sunday night, that was revised, and the city released a list of pharmacies allowed to open Monday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.:
- Brookfield Pharmachoice, 644 Topsail Rd.
- Campbell Pharmachoice, 39 Campbell Ave.
- City Centre Pharmacy, 3 Cashin Ave.
- Kenmount Pharmasave, 300 Kenmount Rd., Suite 107
- Lawtons NHS, 37 Campbell Ave.
- Metro Pharmacy, 35 Major's Path
- The Medicine Shoppe, 470 Topsail Rd., Unit 215
- NuCare Pharmacy Home Services, 320 Torbay Rd., Suite 202
- Shea Heights Pharmacy, 55B Linegar Ave.
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 204 Freshwater Rd.
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 250 LeMarchant Rd.
The city is asking the public to stay home "unless they have an urgent need for medication or essential baby supplies," and warned residents to check with a pharmacy to make sure it has what individuals require as some services may be limited.
On Monday night, the city said all pharmacies would be allowed to open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where to get essentials Monday:
St. John's — state of emergency in effect, with exceptions
- Circle K, 184 Torbay Rd. open for gas only
- Orangestore, 2 Great Southern Dr. open until 11 p.m.
- Canadian Tire Gas+, 390 Topsail Rd.
- Esso, 390 Torbay Rd.
- Esso, 460 Kenmount Rd.
- North Atlantic, 986 Kenmount Rd.
- Circle K, 279 Portugal Cove Rd. open only to emergency services
- Ultramar, 5 Hebron Way open 24/7
- Circle K, 71 Elizabeth Ave. open only to essential workers
- Circle K, 2 Stavanger Dr. open for gas only to essential workers and snow-clearing crew
- Circle K, 12 Bay Bulls Rd. open only to snow plows and emergency responders
Mount Pearl — state of emergency lifted from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
- Triple C Car Wash, 66 Old Placentia Rd. open until 8 p.m.
- Kevin's No Frills, 1300 Topsail Rd. open until 10 p.m.
- Walmart, 60 Merchant Dr. open until 8 p.m., including pharmacy
- Canadian Tire Gas+, 8 Merchant Dr.
- Circle K, 14 Commonwealth Ave.
- Dominion Pearlgate, 150 Old Placentia Rd. open until 8 p.m.
- Sobeys, 50 Old Placentia Rd. open until 8:30 p.m.
- Colemans Food Centre, 6 Centennial Sq. open until 8:30 p.m.
- Pearl Pharmachoice, 12 St. David's Ave. open unil 9 p.m.
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 18 Gibson Dr. open until 8 p.m.
Paradise — state of emergency lifted from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday
- Circle K, 2630 Trans-Canada Highway open 24/7
- Orangestore, 986 Kenmount Rd.
- Sobeys, 1621 Topsail Rd. open until 11 p.m.
- Brian's North Atlantic, 1452 Topsail Rd.
- Marie's Mini Mart, 1290 Topsail Rd. open until 11 p.m.
- Esso, 1316 Topsail Rd. open until 11 p.m.
- The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, 1489 Topsail Rd. open until 6 p.m.
- Valu Pharmachoice, 9 Elizabeth Dr. open until 8 p.m.
Torbay — state of emergency lifted from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
- Foodland, 1588 Torbay Rd. open until 4 p.m.
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's — state of emergency lifted from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
- Sharpe's Cash & Carry, 899 Thorburn Rd. open until 9 p.m.