News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A total of 10,544 first doses of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to children aged five to 11 since appointments opened on Friday, Nov. 26.

Also, in an effort to reduce the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19, more booster dose clinics have been added provincewide. Those who are eligible can schedule an appointment through a regional health authority community COVID-19 vaccination clinic through the online booking system or at a participating pharmacy.

If you are 50 or older and due for a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine at any time in December, you can book an appointment now even though a full six months may not have passed. In the coming weeks, eligibility for booster doses will be expanded to those in their 40s, and then to all other New Brunswickers.

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

Public Health reported today that 82.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 87.8 per cent have received their first dose.

Update on schools and child-care facilities

Ten cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities today in zones 1,2 and 3 with the majority in the Moncton region. Students and staff are reminded to continue following the Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines and all Public Health safety measures, which include vaccination, washing hands or using sanitizer, wearing a mask, physical distancing, and staying home and getting tested if symptoms appear.

Six schools across the province have operational days today, which means either all the students or specific groups are learning from home. More information on the affected schools is available on the Healthy and Safe Schools website and on the COVID-19 dashboard.

About 80 per cent of active cases within schools are in elementary schools. Often the virus was transmitted outside of the school setting or in instances when safety measures were not followed.

“We all have a role to play in keeping schools healthy and safe,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy. “What happens in schools is often a reflection of what is happening in a community. We are counting on individuals, families and businesses to follow Public Health advice and make conscious, healthy choices.”

Level 1 reminder

The entire province is currently in the Level 1 phase of the winter plan to manage COVID-19. The plan requires retail businesses to ensure that physical distancing of two metres is enforced through measures such as using directional arrows, reducing their capacity and preventing groups from congregating.

Businesses can further reduce contacts by offering delivery and curbside pickup options. Alternatively, they may require proof of vaccination for entry. At this time, all major retailers have indicated they will enforce physical distancing instead of requiring proof of vaccination.

82 recoveries, 111 new cases

Public Health reported today that 82 people have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 111 new cases of the virus, with the active number of cases at 781.

There are 18 people in intensive care and another 25 are in hospital for a total of 43 people hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 25 are over 60 and11 people are on a ventilator. There is one person under 19 hospitalized.

Hospitalizations continue to trend downwards from a week ago, while the number of cases in intensive care units remains stable. The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations is now available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Eight of the 43 people hospitalized were initially admitted for other reasons and contracted COVID-19 due to outbreaks at hospitals in Moncton, Saint John and Miramichi. Most of these people are exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms.

More information about the outbreaks is available on the Horizon Health Network website.

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

Holiday guidance

Guidelines for individuals, retailers and event organizers on how to plan for a happy and safe holiday season are available online.

Regional breakdown of new cases

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

·         three people nine and under;

·         two people 10-19;

·         a person 50-59; and

·         two people 60-69.

Six cases are under investigation and two are contacts of previously known cases.

The 23 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows;

·         three people nine and under;

·         four people 10-19;

·         a person 20-29;

·         five people 30-39;

·         four people 40-49;

·         a person 50-59;

·         three people 60-69;

·         a person 70-79; and

·         a person 80-89.

Thirteen cases are under investigation and 10 cases are contacts of previously known cases.

The 61 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

·         17 people nine and under;

·         13 people 10-19;

·         five people 20-29;

·         nine people 30-39;

·         10 people 40-49;

·         three people 50-59;

·         two people 60-69; and

·         two people 70-79.

Fifty-three cases are under investigation and eight are contacts of previously known cases.

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

·         a person nine and under; and

·         a person 10-19.

Both cases are under investigation.

The one new case in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) is a person 60-69. The case is a contact of a previously known case.

The 16 new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

·         five people nine and under;

·         a person 10-19;

·         a person 20-29;

·         four people 40-49;

·         two people 60-69;

·         two people 70-79; and

·         a person 80-89.

Twelve cases are contacts of previously known cases and four cases are under investigation.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Learn more:

Any household in New Brunswick with a positive case of COVID-19 must isolate for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals advised by Public Health or a physician, including confirmed cases of COVID-19, must isolate. More information about isolation is available online.

Potential public exposure locations and dates are listed online. A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Information and resources to help New Brunswickers live with COVID-19 is available on the COVID-19 guidance and resources webpage.

Information about testing, including booking PCR tests and using rapid tests, is available at www.gnb.ca/GetTestedCOVID19.

Travellers, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, must register their travel with the travel registration program.