FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed two people have died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 72.
A person 80-89 in Zone 1 (Moncton region) and a person 90 and over in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) have died.
“As we grieve the loss of two more people to COVID-19, their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “The measures put in place are aimed at reducing the spread of the virus and are necessary to keep everyone safe. I recognize the challenges these measures pose for New Brunswickers, but as we know, the alternatives are worse.”
“I offer my sympathies to the two families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “I know that as we move into the Thanksgiving weekend the restrictions put in place are difficult as this is typically a time to gather with friends and family. However, we have seen a high number of cases sparked from private gatherings. We need to slow the spread and in order to do that, New Brunswickers must not have gatherings at their homes this weekend.”
There are 58 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 30 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 43 are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and 11 are fully vaccinated.
Public Health reported 130 new cases of COVID-19 today and 72 recoveries. The number of active cases is 881. Of the new cases, 76 – or 58 per cent – are unvaccinated, 15 – or 12 per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 39– or 30 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
Circuit breaker in areas with high transmission, effective at 6 p.m.
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. today.
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 today at 6 p.m. and is available online.
Vaccination update
Public Health reported today that 81.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 90.3 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.
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 3 (Fredericton 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 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 case has been confirmed at École le Mascaret in Moncton. A new case has been confirmed at the following previously impacted schools: École Sainte-Bernadette; École L’Odyssée, both located in Moncton; and Hillsborough Elementary School.
Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A case has been confirmed at Tobique Valley High School in Plaster Rock. A new case was confirmed at Meduxnekeag Consolidated School in Woodstock, which was previously impacted.
Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – A case has been confirmed at Garderie les petits entrepreneurs in Saint-André.
Since Sept. 7, 83 schools and 45 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 51 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· 25 people 19 and under;
· six people 20-29;
· five people 30-39;
· six people 40-49;
· three people 50-59;
· two people 60-69; and;
· four people 70-79.
Forty-three cases are under investigation and eight are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The nine new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
· a person 20-29;
· two people 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· a person 50-59;
· two people 60-69; and;
· a person 70-79.
Six cases are under investigation and three are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 25 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· nine people 19 and under;
· five people 20-29;
· three people 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· two people 50-59;
· three people 60-69; and
· a person 80-89.
Twenty-one cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases
The 18 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· four people 19 and under;
· a person 30-39;
· a person 40-49;
· three people 50-59; and
· nine people 60-69.
Nine cases are under investigation and nine are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 20 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· two people 19 and under;
· seven people 20-29;
· three people 30-39;
· three people 40-49;
· two people 50-59;
· a person 70-79; and
· two people 80-89.
Eleven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and nine are under investigation.
The seven new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
· three people 19 and under;
· two people 20-29;
· a person 40-49; and
· a person 70-79.
Four are contacts of previously confirmed cases and three 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 to get an appointment.
A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.
08-10-21