FREDERICTON (GNB) – Parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s rapid-testing program for their children, as people under 19 now compose nearly half the province’s new cases of COVID-19.
As part of this program, parents or guardians of unvaccinated children identified as close contacts of a confirmed case can pick up rapid-test kits at their child’s school.
Rapid tests are available to anyone, 16 or older, at several locations throughout the province, and anyone with a child in a school with a confirmed case who has been identified as a close contact is encouraged to pick up and use these tests to help detect the virus.
“We are continuing to see a high number of cases in people under the age of 19, especially in Zone 3, the Fredericton region,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “Unlike older people and those who have underlying health conditions, the vast majority of young people who catch the virus experience relatively mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization. The increase in cases does not come as a surprise, as many of these children have only recently become eligible for vaccination. However, it does emphasize the importance of children receiving the vaccine and the need for parents and guardians to get vaccinated, and get their boosters when they are eligible, to help reduce the spread and keep our number of hospitalizations manageable.”
To support the demand for vaccination appointments, work is underway to add more clinics to supply pediatric vaccinations and booster doses.
Those who are eligible for pediatric vaccinations or booster doses 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 or in a current eligible group 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. Anyone who is 50 or older or in a current eligible group and received their second dose in July, is eligible for their booster dose anytime in January.
A detailed list of those eligible for a booster dose is available online.
Public Health reported today that 82.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 87.9 per cent have received their first dose.
61 recoveries / 174 new cases
Public Health reported today that 61 people have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 174 new cases of the virus, with the active number of cases at 892.
There are 16 people in intensive care and another 24 are in hospital for a total of 40 people hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 24 are over the age of 60 and eight 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.
Seven of the 40 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.
Public Health has confirmed a person 50-59 in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) and a person 50-59 in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) have died as a result of COVID-19.
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.
Update on schools and child-care facilities
Fifteen cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities today in zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, with the majority impacting the Moncton and Fredericton regions. 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.
Three schools across the province have operational days today, which means either all 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 know that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and they help keep our schools healthy, safe and open,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy. “I strongly encourage parents and guardians to get their children over the age of five vaccinated as soon as they are able through a regional health authority community clinic or a participating pharmacy. This protects children, their families and the community.”
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 25 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
• five people nine and under;
• seven people 10-19;
• eight people 30-39;
• a person 40-49;
• two people 50-59; and
• two people 70-79.
Fifteen cases are under investigation and 10 are contacts of previously known cases.
The 32 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
• seven people nine and under;
• three people 10-19;
• two people 20-29;
• seven people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• four people 50-59;
• four people 60-69; and
• a person 70-79.
Seventeen cases are under investigation and 15 are contacts of previously known cases.
The 94 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
• 26 people nine and under;
• 27 people 10-19;
• nine people 20-29;
• 12 people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• six people 50-59;
• seven people 60-69; and
• three people 70-79.
Sixty-six cases are under investigation and 28 are contacts of previously known cases.
The four new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
• three people nine and under; and
• a person 60-69.
Three cases are under investigation and one is a contact of a previously known case.
The five new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
• two people nine and under;
• a person 10-19;
• a person 40-49; and
• a person 60-69.
Three cases are contacts of previously known cases and two are under investigation.
The four new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
• two people 20-29;
• a person 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.
All four cases are under investigation.
The 10 new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
• a person nine and under;
• two people 20-29;
• three people 40-49;
• two people 50-59;
• a person 60-69; and;
• a person 70-79.
Eight cases are contacts of previously known cases and two are under investigation.
Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
Learn more:
All of New Brunswick is currently in the Level 1 phase of the winter plan to manage COVID-19. More information on the plan is available online.
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.
Holiday guidelines for individuals, retailers and event organizers on how to plan for a happy and safe holiday season are available online.
09-12-21