News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed four people have died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 64.

A person 30-39 in Zone 3 (Fredericton region), a person 50-59 in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) and two people 70-79, one in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and one in Zone 1 (Moncton region) have died.

Public Health reported 140 new cases of COVID-19 and 49 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases to 764. Of the new cases, 94 - or 67 per cent - are unvaccinated, 12 - or 8.5 per cent - are partially vaccinated and 34 - or 24.5 per cent - are fully vaccinated. There are 44 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 17 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. Of those currently in hospital, 35 are unvaccinated and 9 are either partially or fully vaccinated.

“Marcia joins with me in expressing our sympathies to the families and friends of these four people,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “This virus is affecting New Brunswickers of all ages. Healthy younger people are getting sick as well as older individuals. Of the 140 cases announced, 88 are under 40. Those in that age bracket are less likely to end up in hospital but they still carry and can transmit the virus.”

“Four more New Brunswickers lost to the virus is a grim reminder of the continuing toll COVID-19 is taking on our communities and on people at every stage of life,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “We expected cases to climb and they may continue to do so for the next little while until we see the impact of the additional measures brought in last week. Despite the increase in cases, the number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 is manageable but we also know those admissions place an extreme burden on our healthcare facilities and impact other areas of our system.”

Public Safety officers to conduct spot checks at churches this weekend

A number of churches in the province have been the site of public exposures recently. While the vast majority of churches have been following the rules of the mandatory order, concerns remain that not all are. Public Safety officers will be out this weekend conducting spot checks of churches to ensure the mandatory order rules are being followed. Fines will be given to institutions and individuals who break the mandatory order rules.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 80.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 89.4 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

If you have not yet had your first or second dose, you are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.

All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose.

Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.

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

Access to online immunization records

A simplified registration option is now available providing greater online access to immunization records on MyHealthNB.

MyHealthNB is a secure web portal that allows eligible New Brunswickers to obtain access to their COVID-19 test results and immunization record.

This new option allows people to register for a MyHealthNB account without having to book an in-person appointment at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

Anyone 16 or older who has received at least one vaccine in the province and has a valid New Brunswick Medicare number, or another Canadian Health Card number, can now register for a MyHealthNB account. Details are available online.

People are reminded that their paper Record of COVID-19 Immunization will continue to be the official record. Store it in a safe place, keep a copy and take a picture of it. The paper copy or photo can be used as proof of vaccination when accessing certain services, businesses and events.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 52 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• 19 people 19 and under;
• Seven people 20-29;
• 11 people 30-39;
• Seven people 40-49;
• A person 50-59;
• Four people 60-69;
• Two people 80-89; and
• A person 90 and over.

Forty-two cases are under investigation and ten are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

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

• Two people 19 and under;
• Two people 40-49;
• Four people 50-59; and
• A person 60-69.

Five cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 23 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• Five people 19 and under;
• Three people 20-29;
• Six people 30-39;
• Three people 40-49;
• Three people 50-59; and
• Three people 60-69.

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

The 41 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• Ten people 19 and under;
• Six people 20-29;
• 13 people 30-39;
• Five people 40-49;
• Three people 50-59;
• Two people 60-69; and
• Two people 70-79.

Twenty-one cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and 20 are under investigation.

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

• Two people 19 and under;
• A person 20-29;
• A person 30-39;
• Two people 40-49;
• A person 50-59; and
• Two people 60-69.

Five cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

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

• A person 19 and under; and
• A person 60-69.

Both cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The four new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) as follows;

• A person 19 and under;
• A person 60-69;
• A person 70-79; and
• A person 80-89.

Three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one is under investigation.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Outbreak at a nursing home

Public Health has declared an outbreak at Shannex Losier Hall, a nursing home in Miramichi.

Following three confirmed cases of COVID-19, Public Health declared an outbreak and activated the Provincial Rapid Outbreak Management Team (PROMT).

State of emergency reinstated and public health measures in effect

The provincial government is reminding New Brunswickers that based on the current level of COVID-19 hospitalizations, a state of emergency has been reinstated and a mandatory order is now in effect. It includes new measures to limit contacts, ensure physical distancing is maintained, and require certain businesses and events to have a vaccination or masking-and-testing workplace policy. Additional details are available online.

All current public health measures also remain in place, including the mandatory use of masks in indoor public spaces and the requirement to show proof of full vaccination when accessing certain events, services and businesses.

Anyone entering New Brunswick must pre-register through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program.

Additional information about the updated measures is available online.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.