News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health reported 86 new cases of COVID-19 and 64 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases to 650. Of the new cases, 67– or 78 per cent – are not fully vaccinated. There are 41 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 16 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized.

Public Health also reported today that 79.3 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 88.1 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.

COVID-19 assessment centres

The surge in COVID-19 cases is causing delays at assessment centres throughout the province and leading to longer-than-anticipated wait times for appointments and test results.

“I would like to remind New Brunswickers that COVID-19 testing is conducted on a priority basis,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “Individuals who have symptoms are prioritized, so if you do not have symptoms or are not identified as a contact of a case, please self-monitor and only request a test if you are symptomatic.”

Anyone requiring a test for travel-related purposes is encouraged to review the COVID-19 testing requirements in other jurisdictions and plan accordingly, which could include seeking testing through private service providers.

“Due to the high volume of tests for health needs, we are not able to expedite travel-related tests in the current testing regime,” said Russell.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 33 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

·         nine people 19 and under;

·         five people 20-29;

·         seven people 30-39;

·         two people 40-49;

·         four people 50-59;

·         two people 60-69;

·         two people 80-89; and

·         two people 90 and over.

Twenty-three cases are under investigation and 10 are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

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

·         two people 19 and under;

·         a person 30-39;

·         a person 40-49; and

·         two people 50-59.

Four cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two are under investigation.

The 12 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

·         four people 19 and under;

·         two people 20-29;

·         two people 30-39;

·         a person 40-49;

·         a person 50-59;

·         a person 60-69; and

·         a person 70-79.

Eight cases are under investigation, three are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and one is travel-related.

The 23 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

·         nine people 19 and under;

·         two people 20-29;

·         four people 30-39;

·         five people 40-49; and

·         three people 60-69.

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

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

·         four people 19 and under;

·         three people 20-29; and

·         two people 30-39.

Five cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The three new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:

·         two people 30-39; and

·         a person 50-59.

Two cases are under investigation and one is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

State of emergency and public health measures in effect

The provincial government reminds New Brunswickers that, based on the current level of COVID-19 hospitalizations, a state of emergency has been reinstated and a mandatory order is now in effect. It includes 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. Additional details are available online.

Other public health measures 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.

Additional information about these measures is available online.

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Positive cases have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities in zones 1 (Moncton region) and 4 (Edmundston region) since Friday.

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 the school or facility for contact tracing. If you are not notified 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.

Zone 1 (Moncton region) – Positive cases were confirmed at Hillcrest School in Moncton and at École Donat-Robichaud in Cap-Pelé. New cases have been confirmed at the following previously impacted schools: Port Elgin School; Shediac Cape School; École Anna-Malenfant in Dieppe; and Birchmount School in Moncton. A new positive case of COVID-19 has also been confirmed at Centre éducatif Le Platinum in Dieppe, which was previously impacted.

Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – Positive cases were confirmed at Polyvalente Thomas-Albert in Grand Falls. A new positive case was confirmed at École Mgr-Martin in Saint-Quentin, which was previously impacted. New positive cases were also confirmed at Valley View Kids Care in Grand Falls, which was previously impacted.

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.