News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed that three individuals have died as a result of COVID-19. This includes an individual 70-79 and an individual 80-89 in Zone 1 (Moncton region) and an individual 90 and over in Zone 4 (Edmundston region). This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 52.

“Marcia and I wish to share our sincere condolences with the loved ones of these three people,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

“Each of these individuals has family and friends who are now mourning their loved ones,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “I join all New Brunswickers in sharing my heartfelt sympathies with everyone who has been impacted by these tragic losses.”

State of emergency reinstated

The provincial government has announced that, based on the current level of COVID-19 hospitalizations, a state of emergency is being reinstated and a mandatory order will come into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight. It will include new measures to limit contacts, ensure physical distancing is maintained, and require certain businesses and events to have a vaccination or masking-and-testing workplace policy.

“It is unfortunate to return to a state of emergency, however it is necessary,” said Higgs. “Our province must take these steps now. We need to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the number of hospitalizations does not continue to rise.”

All public health measures previously announced remain in place. The following additional measures will be implemented under the mandatory order:

• People must limit their contacts to their household plus 20 consistent contacts.
• Indoor private gatherings will be limited to 20 consistent contacts.
• There will be no limits on outdoor gatherings, as long as physical distancing is maintained.
• Businesses and events where people gather or exercise, including museums, cinemas, theatres, bingo halls, casinos, amusement centres, arenas, game rooms, pools halls, live entertainment venues, weddings, funerals, gyms, yoga studios and similar venues must ensure all employees are fully vaccinated or are continuously masked and tested regularly. Patrons and participants entering such events remain required to be fully vaccinated.
• Physical distancing is required at businesses, services or events where proof of vaccination is not required, such as grocery and retail stores, private businesses and libraries.
• Faith venues have the option to either ensure all participants show proof of full vaccination, or implement the following measures:
  • operate at 50 per cent capacity;
  • maintain physical distancing;
  • ensure continuous mask use;
  • record names of all attendees or have assigned seating;
  • eliminate singing from services; and
  • prevent anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms and those who have been instructed to self-isolate from entering.

Businesses can access rapid testing kits through their local chamber of commerce.  More information about the program is available online.

All current public health measures will also remain in place, including the mandatory use of masks in indoor public spaces and the requirement to show proof of full vaccination when accessing certain events, services and businesses. Anyone entering New Brunswick must pre-register through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program.

Spot checks will be conducted by enforcement officers at borders and at businesses, and fines will be issued if businesses or individuals are not complying with the rules. Under the mandatory order, fines can range between $480 and $20,400.

The government will review the mandatory order every two weeks. As hospitalization numbers decrease, the mandatory order and public health measures will remain in place to ensure hospitalizations stabilize. Once the number of hospitalizations falls to 10 or fewer, the mandatory order will be lifted, and New Brunswick will return to public health measures. It will be reinstated if 25 or more people are hospitalized.

“Right now, our government’s top concern is the impact COVID-19 will have on New Brunswick’s health-care system if this fourth wave continues its current trajectory,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “If our hospitals become overwhelmed it will impact all New Brunswickers, as we would need to cut back on other health-care services, including regular appointments and routine surgeries.”

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Positive cases have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities in zones 1 (Moncton region), 2 (Saint John region), 3 (Fredericton region), 4 (Edmundston region) and 6 (Bathurst region).

The respective school or child-care communities have been notified. If you or a family member have been in close contact with a case, you will be notified by Public Health or by the school or facility for contact tracing. If you do not hear directly, you have not been identified as a close contact.

As per New Brunswick’s Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses. Districts have reached out to families directly with specific information regarding any impacts on learning, including information on home learning, if required.

“Public Health is committed to keeping every classroom, teacher and student healthy and safe,” said Russell. “We know the benefit of keeping children in the classroom goes a long way, and has a positive impact on their overall well-being and social and mental health.”

Zone 1 (Moncton region) – A positive case has been confirmed at Shediac Cape School. A positive case has also been confirmed at Daycare of Memories in Moncton.

Zone 2 (Saint John region) – A positive case has been confirmed at each of the following schools: Hampton Middle School and Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis.

Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A positive case or cases have been confirmed at each of the following schools: Townsview School in Woodstock; Keswick Valley Memorial School in Burtts Corner; Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton; and Devon Middle School in Fredericton. A new case has been confirmed at Southern Victoria High School in Perth-Andover, which was previously impacted. A positive case has also been confirmed in each of the following child-care facilities: Woodstock After School Program and Future Footprints Family Centre in Perth-Andover.

Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – Positive cases were confirmed at École Mgr. Martin in Saint-Quentin. A new positive case or cases have been confirmed at each of the following previously impacted schools: École Mgr. Lang in Drummond; Polyvalente Alexandre-J.-Savoie in Saint-Quentin; École Marie-Gaétane in Kedgwick; and John Caldwell School in Grand Falls. A positive case was confirmed at Valley Kids Care in Grand Falls.

Zone 6 (Bathurst region) - A positive case was confirmed at Garderie la Découverte in Tracadie.

59 of 78 new cases not fully vaccinated

Public Health reported 76 recoveries and 78 new cases today. Fifty-nine – or 76 per cent – of these new cases are not fully vaccinated.

There are 31 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 15 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. The number of active cases is 573.

The eight new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• two people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• two people 40-49; and
• a person 70-79.

Three cases are under investigation, three are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two are travel-related cases.

The six new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• a person 20-29;
• a person 40-49;
• a person 50-59; and
• two people 70-79.

Three cases are under investigation and three are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 28 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• seven people 19 and under;
• five people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• four people 50-59;
• two people 60-69; and
• three people 70-79.

Sixteen cases are under investigation and 12 are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 22 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• 11 people 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• two people 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.

Thirteen cases are under investigation and nine are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 13 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;
• a person 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• three people 40-49;
• two people 50-59; and
• a person 70-79.

Eight cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The one new case in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) is a person 70-79. This case is under investigation.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 78.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 87.4 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

If you have not yet had your first or second dose, you are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.

All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose.

Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.

A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.

COVID-19 updates

Due to the state of emergency, news releases regarding COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates will be posted seven days a week. Updates will also be available daily on the COVID-19 dashboard.