News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Zone 1 (Moncton region) and Zone 3 (Fredericton region) will return to the Yellow level effective midnight tonight.

Public Health supports the move that has been measured against all risks and the declining case load in both regions and high levels of public adherence to restrictions limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Other Public Health recommendations include Zone 2 (Saint John region) remaining at the Orange alert level for the time being, as there are still a number of active cases in this zone and the risk of transmission or outbreaks remains high.

Public Health will continue to monitor progress in this region in the hope of returning Zone 2 to the Yellow alert level as soon as possible.

“The danger of further COVID-19 infections has not gone away, we have not reduced the risk to zero,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “Yellow means ‘caution.’ It is not an invitation to go full speed ahead into life as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Recovery level rules are available online. In the Yellow level, Public Health measures and guidelines must still be followed. This includes wearing a mask in most indoor public places.

“For residents in areas currently at the Yellow level, including those who are returning to the Yellow level tonight, I urge you to continue to take precautions and be mindful and careful,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “Recent events have reminded us how quickly our situation can change. Wearing masks and limiting the people we are in contact with is making a difference. That is why we must continue to do both, even during the holiday season.”

New cases

Public Health reported four new cases of COVID-19 today, as follows:

• one individual 19 and under in Zone 1 (Moncton region);

• one individual 60 to 69 in Zone 2 (Saint John region);

• one individual 90 and over in Zone 2 (Saint John region); and

• one individual 60 to 69 in Zone 4 (Edmundston region).

All of these cases are self-isolating and under investigation.

The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 534 and 445 have recovered. There have been seven deaths, and the number of active cases is 82, with two cases currently in the hospital, including one in intensive care. As of today, 133,087 tests have been conducted.