FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed that a person aged 90 and over in Zone 1 (Moncton region) has died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 60.
“On behalf of all New Brunswickers, Marcia and I extend heartfelt condolences to those mourning the loss of their loved one,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “Hearing of these losses never gets easier, nor should it.”
“It’s important to remember that those we have lost to this virus are more than numbers – they were people with hopes, dreams and loved ones,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.
Public Health reported 85 new cases of COVID-19 and 97 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases to 677. Of the new cases, 68 – or 80 per cent – are not fully vaccinated. There are 41 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 15 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized.
Vaccination update
Public Health also reported today that 80.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 89.2 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.
Access to online immunization records
A simplified registration option is now available providing greater online access to immunization records on MyHealthNB.
This new option now allows people to register for a MyHealthNB account without having to book an in-person appointment at a Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Anyone 16 or older who has received at least one vaccine in the province and has a valid New Brunswick Medicare number, or another Canadian Health Card number, can now register for a MyHealthNB account. Details are available online.
“I would encourage those who have booked an in-person appointment to cancel it and instead, use this new option,” said Russell.
Cancellations can be done online or by calling 1-833-437-1424.
MyHealthNB is a secure web portal that allows eligible New Brunswickers to obtain access to their COVID-19 test results and their COVID-19 immunization record.
People are reminded that their paper Record of COVID-19 Immunization will continue to be the official record. Store it in a safe place, keep a copy and take a picture of it. The paper copy or the photo can be used as proof of vaccination when accessing certain services, businesses and events.
Rapid testing update
Public Health has distributed more than 586,000 rapid test kits through its COVID-19 Point of Care Testing program.
The program is designed to ensure workplace operations continue safely, while protecting employees and close contacts. A separate program for eligible non-profit organizations, charities and Indigenous community organizations with workers based in New Brunswick is co-ordinated with the Canadian Red Cross.
Rapid tests are also used in managing outbreaks.
“Point of care testing is one tool that can be used to control the spread of COVID-19,” said Russell. “When cases are identified early this helps us respond as potential carriers can be isolated, which helps to stop the transmission of the virus.”
The results of a rapid test reflect a person’s status for that moment in time. It is vital that those who have a positive result on a rapid care test kit follow-up with a lab-based PCR test at an assessment centre to confirm the results.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 15 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· four people 20-29;
· two people 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· a person 50-59; and
· a person 60-69.
Nine cases are under investigation and six are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 11 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
· three people 19 and under;
· two people 20-29;
· a person 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· a person 50-59;
· a person 60-69; and
· a person 80-89.
Six cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 21 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· three people 30-39;
· four people 40-49;
· three people 50-59;
· a person 60-69;
· three people 70-79; and
· a person 80-89.
Nineteen cases are under investigation and two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 25 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· 16 people 19 and under;
· a person 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· four people 50-59;
· a person 60-69; and
· a person 90 and over.
Sixteen cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and nine cases are under investigation.
The 11 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· two people 30-39;
· a person 40-49;
· a person 50-59; and
· a person 70-79.
Ten cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one is under investigation.
The two new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
· a person 19 and under; and
· a person 60-69.
Both cases are under investigation.
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 upon 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.
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), 3 (Fredericton region), 4 (Edmundston region) and 5 (Campbellton 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 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 contacted families directly with specific information regarding any impact on learning, including information on home learning, if required.
Zone 1 (Moncton region) – A positive case was confirmed at the following schools: Moncton High School and Beaverbrook School in Moncton. A new positive case was also confirmed at École Champlain in Moncton, which was previously impacted.
Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A positive case was confirmed at Centreville Community School. A new positive case was also confirmed at Hartland Community School, which was previously impacted. A positive case was confirmed at Centreville Child Care.
Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – A positive case was confirmed at École Élémentaire Sacré-Coeur in Grand Falls. A new positive case or cases have been confirmed at the following schools, which were previously impacted: École Mgr-Martin in St-Quentin, École Marie-Gaétane in Kedgwick and Polyvalente Thomas-Albert in Grand Falls. A positive case was also confirmed at Centre de Soins et Éducation Mickey & Minnie in Saint André.
Zone 5 (Campbellton region) – A new positive case was confirmed at Galion des Appalaches in Campbellton, which was previously impacted.
Since Sept. 7, 63 schools and 28 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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.
01-10-21