FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed that a person 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 70.
“Marcia and I wish to express our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the person who has passed away,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “Our situation here in New Brunswick remains serious and that is why we have had to take additional steps to curb the spread and reduce hospitalizations.”
“Hearing of another death in our province from this virus is heartbreaking, and my sympathies are extended to the family,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “The measures we have put in place are aimed at reducing the spread, and we need every person in New Brunswick to follow them to combat the virus. Please do your part, get vaccinated and follow the Public Health measures.”
There are 51 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 25 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 41 are unvaccinated, two are partially vaccinated and eight are fully vaccinated.
Public Health reported 71 new cases of COVID-19 today and 77 recoveries. The number of active cases is 775. Of the new cases, 50 – or 70,4 per cent – are unvaccinated, seven – or 9.9 per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 14 – or 19.7 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
Circuit breaker in areas with high transmission, effective Friday
Due to the high number of COVID-19 transmissions, a circuit breaker will be put in place in certain areas of the province for 14 days beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8.
The areas that will be impacted are Zone 1 (Moncton region) as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent; the northern portion of Zone 3 from and including Deerville and Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
More information about the circuit breaker rules, including a detailed list and map of affected communities, is available online.
Single households for Thanksgiving weekend for entire province
All New Brunswickers – including those living in areas not impacted by the circuit breaker – must not have gatherings anywhere other than a place at which the law requires proof of vaccination with anyone they do not currently live with during the Thanksgiving long weekend, between 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11.
A single household refers to individuals who are living together. It can be extended to include caregivers for any of those people, plus any parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of those people who requires support, plus any one additional person who lives alone at another address who requires support.
“We have seen a high number of cases sparked from private gatherings and these are resulting in transmission of the virus across the province, particularly amongst the unvaccinated,” said Russell. “I understand this is difficult but, in an effort to reduce the spread, New Brunswickers must not have gatherings at their homes during Thanksgiving weekend.”
All businesses may remain open for regular operations but must follow measures listed under the mandatory order. This includes businesses that are not required to see proof of vaccination, such as hair salons, retail and grocery stores, and those that are required to request proof of vaccination, such as restaurants and entertainment venues. Children under 12 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult will also be admitted.
Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 12, a new rapid testing program for schools will be rolled out aimed at minimizing disruptions to learning due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
In addition, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has made updates to the outbreak management process, including creating a dedicated COVID-19 response team to improve response time and reporting on outbreaks in schools. In the coming days, a new dashboard will be available on the Healthy and Safe Schools website.
Positive cases have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities in Zone 1 (Moncton region) and Zone 4 (Edmundston 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 case was confirmed at Northrop Frye School in Moncton. A new case or cases have also been confirmed at Hillsborough Elementary School; Maplehurst School; École Champlain; and École Saint-Henri, which are all located in Moncton and were previously impacted. A positive case was also confirmed at each of the following early learning and child-care facilities: the Salvation Army Small Blessings Early Childhood Development Centre; and YW Margie's Early Learning Centre, both located in Moncton.
Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A new case was confirmed at each of the following schools which were previously impacted: Hartland Community School and Liverpool Street School in Fredericton.
Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – A new case or cases were confirmed at École Mgr. Lang in Drummond and École Élémentaire Sacré-Coeur in Grand Falls. A case was also confirmed at Garderie du Domaine in Edmundston. In addition, a new case was confirmed at Garderie les Ribambelles en folies in Saint-Léornard, which was previously impacted.
Zone 7 (Miramichi region) – A case was confirmed at King Street Elementary School in Miramichi.
Since Sept. 7, 78 schools and 44 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Vaccination update
All provincial government employees, staff in long-term care facilities and staff and volunteers in schools and licensed early learning and child-care facilities must be fully vaccinated by Friday, Nov. 19.
Beginning this week, a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine will be administered to residents in nursing homes and other communal settings who have already received two doses of a vaccine.
Public Health reported today that 80.9 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 89.9 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.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 10 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· a person 19 and under;
· five people 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· a person 50-59; and
· a person 60-69.
Five cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The seven new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
· a person 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· a person 30-39;
· three people 60-69;and
· a person 80-89.
One case is under investigation, three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and three cases are travel-related.
The 21 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· five people 20-29;
· two people 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· two people 50-59;
· four people 60-69; and
· a person 70-79.
Nineteen cases are under investigation and two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 15 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· six people 19 and under;
· five people 20-29;
· a person 30-39;
· a person 40-49;
· a person 50-59; and
· a person 70-79.
Thirteen cases are under investigation and two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The five cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· two people 20-29;
· a person 40-49;
· a person 60-69; and
· a person 70-79.
All five cases are under investigation.
The 12 new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· two people 20-29;
· a person 40-49;
· three people 50-59; and
· a person 60-69.
Five cases are under investigation, five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and two are travel-related.
There is one new case in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) of a person 40-49 who is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
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.
06-10-21