News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The province will remain at Level 1 of the government’s COVID-19 Winter Plan, as hospitalizations remain stable, Public Health announced today.

“Cases have risen over the past few days, particularly in the Fredericton region, but we are also seeing the number of hospitalizations drop, and that is important,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “The devastating impact of the disease is not on people with mild or no symptoms; it is on those who end up hospitalized and in our ICUs. We continue to see the biggest impact on older people, particularly those who have underlying health conditions and are unvaccinated, as they make up the majority of our people hospitalized.”

Every person is being asked to take the small steps necessary to limit the spread of the virus in their communities. These steps include limiting their number of close contacts, wearing a face mask that fits properly if masking is required, physical distancing from others, monitoring themselves for symptoms, staying home when sick, and getting vaccinated or, if already vaccinated, a booster when eligible.

“We know that these vaccines are protecting people against serious illness, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “COVID-19 remains a risk to our health, but the level of risk has changed, and our response has changed with it. Today, those at greatest risk are the unvaccinated, as well as older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. If you choose to remain unvaccinated, please protect yourself from this disease by avoiding gatherings where you might contract this virus – and protect others by avoiding contact with vulnerable people whose immune systems may not be able to protect them.”

To support the demand for appointments, work is underway to add more clinics to supply pediatric vaccinations and booster doses. 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 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.

The number of booster doses administered has been added to today’s dashboard and will be updated daily to keep New Brunswickers informed.

Public Health reported today that 82.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 88.2 per cent have received their first dose, and 8.4 per cent of eligible individuals have received a booster dose.

63 recoveries / 143 new cases

Public Health reported today that 63 people have recovered from COVID-19 and there are 143 new cases of the virus, with the active number of cases at 971.

There are 12 people in intensive care and another 24 are in hospital for a total of 36 people hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 21 are over the age of 60 and six people are on a ventilator. No one under 19 is 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 available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Seven of the 36 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 70-79 in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) has 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

Thirteen cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities today in zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 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.

Twelve 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 health and safety measures were not followed.

“We know families are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in schools,” said Shephard. “We also feel it is important that we protect in-person learning as long as possible and that we keep our schools operating as normally as possible. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Public Health are working on a plan to ensure that schools and child-care facilities can continue to operate safely through the winter.”

Due to the number of positive cases among students in the Fredericton region, rapid-test kits will be distributed to all kindergarten-to-Grade 8 students in that region beginning Monday, Dec. 13. Families can also pick up rapid tests at several locations around the province.

Families at other schools in the province impacted by COVID-19 are also encouraged to pick up rapid tests from their school, if their child has been identified as a close contact, or from their nearest pick-up location.

In Zone 3 schools with active cases, students and staff will be required to use rapid testing to manage the risk of transmission. In schools that have not had active cases in the past 14 days, it is recommended – but not mandatory – that students test daily.

Anyone who receives a positive rapid-test result, or who is experiencing one symptom of COVID-19, must isolate immediately and book a test at an assessment centre.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 23 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• three people nine and under;
• a person 10-19;
• three people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• five people 50-59;
• three people 60-69; and
• two people 70-79.

Eighteen cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously known cases.

The 28 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:

• three people nine and under;
• three people 10-19;
• seven people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• three people 40-49;
• four people 50-59;
• four people 60-69; and
• two people 70-79.

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

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

• nine people nine and under;
• 19 people 10-19;
• 10 people 20-29;
• five people 30-39;
• eight people 40-49;
• three people 50-59;
• four people 60-69;
• two people 70-79; and
• a person 80-89.

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

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

• a person nine and under;
• three people 10-19;
• two people 20-29;
• a person 30-39; and
• a person 40-49.

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

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

• a person 10-19; and
• a person 50-59.

Both cases are under investigation

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

• a person 40-49; and
• a person 60-69.

Both cases are under investigation.

The 19 new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

• two people nine and under;
• two people 10-19;
• four people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• a person 40-49;
• a person 50-59;
• three people 60-69;
• two people 70-79; and
• a person 80-89.

Nine cases are under investigation, nine are contacts of previously known cases and one case is travel-related.

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.