News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed that two people have died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 84.

A person 90 and over in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and a person 70-79 in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) have died.

“Sadly, two more people have lost their lives. We must do everything we can to reduce the spread of the virus, protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our communities,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “It is heartening to see that the number of New Brunswickers receiving their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine continue to climb.”

“I offer my sympathies to the two families who are grieving the loss of their loved one,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “It is important to remember that getting vaccinated and following public health measures are our best defence against the spread of the virus. When you choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19, you are increasing your risk of transmission and hospitalization.”

There are 60 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 18 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 31 are unvaccinated, six are partially vaccinated and 23 are fully vaccinated. Of the 18 in an intensive care unit, 16 are unvaccinated and two are partially vaccinated.

Public Health reported 87 new cases of COVID-19 today and 124 recoveries. Of the new cases, 52 – or 60 per cent – are unvaccinated, nine – or 10 per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 26 – or 30 per cent – are fully vaccinated. The number of active cases is 1,064.

Rapid-testing program expands

On Saturday, Oct. 16, people who live in circuit breaker areas and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, will be able to pick up free rapid-test kits which they will be able to administer at home. Kits will be available at the following three locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Magic Mountain parking lot, 150 Magic Mountain Rd., Moncton

• Perth-Andover Middle School, 20 Nissen St., Perth-Andover

• Town Hall (rear parking lot), 131 Pleasant St., Grand Falls

Effective Monday, Oct. 18, kits will be available to the public at large at the following other locations provincewide:

•           Greater Moncton Health Centre, 150 Edmonton Ave., Moncton (3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday)

•           Cocagne Health Clinic, 4813 Rte. 134, Cocagne (8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday)

•           Moncton, 380 MacNaughton Ave. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Edmundston Regional Hospital, 275 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Haut-Madawaska Medical Clinic, 809 Principale St., Clair (1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

•           Grand Falls General Hospital, 625 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin, 21 Canada St., Saint-Quentin (2 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily)

•           E.L. Murray Medical Clinic, 3 Stanley St., Campbellton (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           St. Joseph Community Health Centre, 280 Victoria St., Dalhousie (noon to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Shediac Regional Medical Centre, 419 Main St., Shediac (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Jacquet River Health Centre, 41 Mack St., Belledune (1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Chaleur Regional Hospital, 1750 Sunset Blvd., Bathurst (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday)

•           Enfant-Jésus RHSJ Hospital, 1 Saint-Pierre Blvd. W., Caraquet (1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Tracadie Hospital, 400 Des Hospitalières St., Tracadie (1 p.m. to 3 p.m. daily)

•           Lamèque Hospital and Community Health Centre, 29 De l’Hôpital St., Lamèque (noon to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Paquetville Health Centre, 1096 Du Parc St., Paquetville (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday)

•           Saint-Isidore Community Health Centre, 3973-1 Des Fondateurs Blvd., Saint-Isidore (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           St. James the Less Church, 1760 Rothesay Rd., Rothesay (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Exhibition Grounds, 361 Smythe St., Fredericton (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday)

•           Miramichi, 365 Wellington St. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday)

“Public Health has distributed more than one million rapid test kits across the province so far,” said Russell. “We have been using them in long-term care settings and at schools, and local chambers of commerce have been distributing them to businesses.”

“It is important that anyone who has a positive result on a rapid test get a lab-based PCR test at an assessment centre to confirm the results,” she said.

The rapid test screening program is aimed at people two and older who do not have symptoms and who have not been identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case. A kit has five tests to be used over a 10-day period. People 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult to acquire a testing kit.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 82.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 91.2 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.

Confirmed cases in schools

Positive cases have been confirmed in schools in Zones 1 (Moncton region), 2 (Saint John region), 3 (Fredericton region), 4 (Edmundston region) and 5 (Campbellton region).

The respective schools 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.

Under 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 or cases have been confirmed at Forest Glen School and Northrop Frye School, both located in Moncton and have been previously impacted.

Zone 2 (Saint John region) – A case has been confirmed at St. Stephen High School.

Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A new case has been confirmed at Liverpool Street Elementary School, which was previously impacted.

Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – A new case or cases have been confirmed at Polyvalente A.J. Savoie in Saint-Quentin and École Régionale-de-Saint-André, which were both previously impacted.

Zone 5 (Campbellton region) – A new case has been confirmed at Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton.

Since Sept. 7, 99 schools and 53 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Circuit breaker in areas with high transmission now in effect

Due to the high number of COVID-19 transmissions, a 14-day circuit breaker went into effect at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, for certain areas of the province.

These areas 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.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 29 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• 11 people 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• five people 30-39;
• three people 40-49;
• two people 50-59;
• four people 60-69; and
• two people 70-79.

Twenty-seven cases are under investigation and two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

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

• two people 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• a person 40-49;
• a person 50-59; and
• a person 70-79.

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

The 17 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;
• a person 20-29;
• five people 30-39;
• two people 40-49;
• three people 60-69;
• a person 70-79; and
• a person 80-89.

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

The 16 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• three people 19 and under;
• three people 30-39;
• two people 40-49;
• five people 60-69;
• two people 70-79; and
• a person 80-89.

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

The 13 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• four people 40-49;
• a person 60-69; and;
• two people 70-79.

Seven cases are under investigation and six cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

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

• a person 19 and under;
• a person 40-49; and;
• a person 50-59.

All three 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 to get an appointment.

A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.