The residents of St. John's will have to wait just a bit longer before the Newfoundland state of emergency comes to an end. However, it could be over by the weekend. The municipal government is preparing to make an announcement on Friday. According to a press release from the city, all restrictions are expected to be lifted by 6:00 AM on Saturday, January 25. That doesn't mean everything will be back to normal yet. The roads are still being cleared and local officials expect them to be fully widened by early next week. However, anyone waiting for snow to be removed from the sidewalks will have to wait even longer, until work on the streets has been completed. There are some exceptions to the rules that the city has already laid out. Taxis are allowed to operate today, and residents who work in other municipalities are allowed to drive out of the capital city. People are free to drive to St. John's International Airport, as well. Heating oil delivery will also resume today. While these restrictions have been lifted, they are still urging people to drive carefully and to carpool if at all possible. The city stated that fewer vehicles on the road means faster snow removal so they can get back to normal sooner. State of Emergency remains in effect Thurs. Jan.23 & Fri. Jan.24Learn exemptions: https://t.co/7QHDnol0gSPlease stay off streets to the fullest extent possible. Reduced congestion means quicker snow removal and we'll be able to transition away from SOE faster. #nltraffic— City of St. John's (@CityofStJohns) January 23, 2020 Pharmacies and grocery stores will be open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Veterinarians, dentists, and medical offices are permitted to open today as of 8:00 AM. Gas stations will also be operating. View this post on Instagram The aftermath of one of the biggest snow storms in recorded history in #Newfoundland #Canada - #stateofemergency continues for the 7th day and is extended until Saturday. . 📷 Vaida V.Nairn . . #stjohns #nlfd #snowmageddon2020 #snow #blizzard #extremeweather #snowblizzard #snowedin #shovelling #shovellingsnow #nature #snowphotos #winter #winterwonderland #instasnow #instawinter #instanaturelover #instanature . A post shared by Vaida V. Nairn (@vaidavnairn) on Jan 23, 2020 at 6:23am PST Garbage and recycling collection is still on hold, and the local landfill's residential drop-off will stay closed. Residents are also not allowed to park anywhere in the downtown or business districts, as 24-hour restrictions are still in place. The state of emergency has officially gone on for six days. At least now, it appears that the end is in sight. *Cover photo used for illustrative purposes only.
