FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswick reached a milestone today, with 90.1 per cent of the eligible population having received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 81.1 per cent are fully vaccinated against the virus.
“This is very encouraging news that 90 per cent of us are at least partially vaccinated,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “If we can get everyone who has had a first dose to get their second dose, we could reach 90 per cent fully vaccinated within a month. Every person who gets the vaccine reduces the overall risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.”
There are 55 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 31 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 41 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated and 11 are fully vaccinated.
Public Health reported 116 new cases of COVID-19 today and 66 recoveries. The number of active cases is 825. Of the new cases, 71 – or 61.2 per cent – are unvaccinated, 10 – or 8.6 per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 35 – or 30.2 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
“While we continue to see cases pop up in the vaccinated population, we know you are 16 times more likely to contract COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated. If you are vaccinated you are also much less likely to get seriously ill or end up in hospital,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.
Vaccination reminder
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.
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), Zone 2 (Saint John region), Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and Zone 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 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 may 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 new case has been confirmed at Northrop Frye School and Maplehurst School, which are both located in Moncton and were previously impacted. A new case was also confirmed at East Coast Kids Child Care & Learning Center in Hillsborough, which was previously impacted.
Zone 2 (Saint John region) – A case has been confirmed at Campobello Island Consolidated School.
Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A case has been confirmed at Stanley Consolidated School. A new case was confirmed at Hartland Community School, which was previously impacted.
Zone 6 (Bathurst region) – A case has been confirmed at Superior Middle School in Bathurst.
Since Sept. 7, 81 schools and 44 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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 and including Havelock in Zone 2; the northern portion of Zone 3 from and including Deerville and Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region), including Menneval in Zone 5.
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.
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.
Mandatory order
A new mandatory order will come into effect on Friday at 6 p.m. and is available online.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 39 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· 19 people 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· five people 30-39;
· four people 40-49;
· three people 50-59;
· four people 60-69;
· two people 70-79: and
· a person 90 and over.
Twenty-four cases are under investigation and 15 are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 19 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
· eight people 19 and under;
· four people 30-39;
· four people 40-49;
· a person 50-59;
· a person 60-69; and
· a person 70-79.
Fourteen cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 20 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· seven people 19 and under;
· four people 30-39;
· three people 40-49;
· four people 50-59; and
· two people 80-89.
Seventeen cases are under investigation and three are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 20 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· five people 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· four people 30-39;
· four people 40-49;
· three people 50-59;
· two people 60-69; and
· a person 90 and over.
Sixteen cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 11 cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· six people 60-69;
· two people 70-79;
· two people 80-89; and
· a person 90 and over.
Ten cases are under investigation and one is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
The five new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
· three people 20-29;
· a person 30-39; and
· a person 50-59.
Two cases are under investigation and three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The two new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
· a person 20-29; and
· a person 30-39.
Both cases are under investigation.
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.
07-10-21