News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – As of 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, everyone in a household anywhere in New Brunswick with a positive case of COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, must isolate for 14 days.

Household members who are fully vaccinated will be able to leave isolation with a day five negative PCR test. A day 10 PCR test must still be taken to confirm the negative result.

Also, on Friday at 6 p.m., circuit breaker measures will end in zones 1 (Moncton region) and 7 (Miramichi region).

“It is incredibly important that we get the spread of this virus under control, especially with the holiday season approaching,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “The circuit breaker measures worked well in most zones, but after six weeks they were not having the desired effect in Zone 1, the Moncton region, and we needed to change our approach. We have to find the balance between what we think of as back to normal and living with the reality of COVID-19.”

“As we have done through this pandemic, we are adjusting our strategies to precisely target what is causing the current spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer. “About 49 per cent of new cases reported in the past seven days are a result of transmission within a household. Targeting our approach by having household members isolate will help to reduce this.”

Job protection is in place for those who are not able to work because they have COVID-19, are caring for a person with whom they have a close family relationship who has the virus, or are following self-isolation or quarantine protocols as directed by Public Health. Further details are available online.

Those who violate the Public Health order to self-isolate face a fine of between $480 and $20,400.

Public service vaccination update

To ensure a healthy and safe workplace, the provincial government made it a requirement for all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Friday, Nov. 19. Employees without two doses, or without a first dose and a confirmed appointment for their second dose, will be placed on leave without pay effective at the end of the workday Friday.

The majority of employees in the departments, health care, education and crown corporations are fully vaccinated or have received at least one dose of vaccine and have a confirmed appointment for their second dose. Currently, 1,995 employees or 3.3 per cent are unvaccinated.

“We have gone from 10 per cent unvaccinated down to just over three per cent since this policy was announced,” said Higgs. “We remain hopeful that those who have not yet done so will get vaccinated so that we can welcome them back. For now, we have to take this step to protect the public and our other staff. As for how long these employees will be on leave without pay, that is something we are looking at but no decision has been made.”

71 recoveries and 72 new cases

Public Health reported today that 71 people have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 72 new cases of the virus, with the number of active cases at 566.

There are 14 people in intensive care and another 14 in hospital for a total of 28 people hospitalized. No one under 19 is currently hospitalized.

The rate of people hospitalized and in ICU, as well as new cases, continues to impact people that are unvaccinated the most. Information about the rates of cases and hospitalizations based on vaccination status is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 87.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 93.3 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

Health-care personnel – including those working in long-term care facilities – and residents of First Nations communities can now book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if six months have passed since their second dose of a vaccine. They must bring their proof of vaccination, i.e. immunization record, to their appointment.

People 65 and older and school personnel are permitted to book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if six months have passed since their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Fully vaccinated people who have received one or two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in their series are permitted to book an appointment to receive an mRNA booster dose if 28 days have passed since their second dose.

International travellers with mixed first two doses of vaccine products are eligible to book an appointment to receive a booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This applies to anyone who must travel outside of North America for work, education or medical procedures. A booster dose of an mRNA vaccine will be available as long as a 28-day interval has passed since their previous dose.

A detailed list of those eligible for a booster dose is available online.

Appointments for first and second doses, as well as a booster dose for those eligible, can be scheduled for a regional health authority community COVID-19 vaccination clinic through the online booking system or at a participating pharmacy. Residents of First Nations communities can also book an appointment at a community clinic.

A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 32 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• 16 people 19 and under;
• four people 20-29;
• four people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• two people 50-59;
• a person 60-69; and
• a person 70-79.

Twenty-three cases are under investigation and nine cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 13 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:

• six people 19 and under;
• two people 30-39;
• two people 40-49;
• two people 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.

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

The 21 cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• six people 40-49;
• four people 50-59; and
• five people 60-69.

Sixteen cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The six new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• three people 30-39;
• a person 40-49; and
• a person 60-69.

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

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Information on cases in schools is available on the Healthy and Safe Schools website and the COVID-19 dashboard.

A case has been confirmed at Joy Pre-School and Spring Roots Early Learning & Child Care Centre, both located in Zone 3 (Fredericton/River Valley region). A new case has also been confirmed at Love and Learn Child Care Center in Zone 1 (Moncton region) which was previously impacted. Affected families 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 facility for contact tracing. If you are not notified directly, you have not been identified as a close contact.

Since Sept. 7, 82 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with two or more symptoms of the virus is urged to request a test online to get an appointment.

If you have been at the site of a possible public exposure, but remain asymptomatic, you may be able to pick up a rapid-screening kit (while supplies last).

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