FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health has confirmed that a person 70-79 in Zone 2 (Saint John region) has died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 75.
“I was saddened to learn that another person has passed away because of the virus,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “This is a tragic reminder of the seriousness of our current situation in New Brunswick. We are taking action to prevent the virus from spreading, which is why we must all limit our contacts to our single household this long weekend.”
“I know the number of breakthrough cases in vaccinated people seem alarming but it is to be expected as the virus moves. As far more people are vaccinated than not vaccinated, we may see a rise in cases in vaccinated people but the risk to those vaccinated people remains far lower with fewer vaccinated people getting hospitalized or seriously ill,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “Our ICU numbers are showing that difference in severity of illness as well with roughly 90 per cent of the cases unvaccinated.”
There are 56 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 20 in an intensive care unit. There is one person under the age of 19 currently hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 44 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated and nine are fully vaccinated.
Public Health reported 98 new cases of COVID-19 today and 22 recoveries. The number of active cases is 1,037. Of the new cases, 47 – or 48 per cent – are unvaccinated, nine – or nine per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 42 – or 43 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
Vaccination update
All provincial government employees, staff in long-term care facilities and staff and volunteers in schools and licensed early learning and child-care facilities must be fully vaccinated by Friday, Nov. 19.
A booster dose of an mRNA vaccine is being administered to residents in nursing homes and other communal settings who have already received two doses of a vaccine.
Public Health reported today that 81.5 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 90.7 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.
Circuit breaker in areas with high transmission now in effect
Due to the high number of COVID-19 transmissions, a circuit breaker has been put in place in certain areas of the province for 14 days beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8.
The areas impacted are Zone 1 (Moncton region) as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent and including Havelock in Zone 2; the northern portion of Zone 3 from and including Deerville and Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region), including Menneval in Zone 5.
More information about the circuit breaker rules, including a detailed list and map of affected communities, is available online.
Single households for Thanksgiving weekend for entire province
All New Brunswickers – including those living in areas not impacted by the circuit breaker – must not have gatherings anywhere other than a place at which the law requires proof of vaccination with anyone they do not currently live with during the Thanksgiving long weekend, between 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, and 11:59 p.m. tonight.
A single household refers to individuals who are living together. It can be extended to include caregivers for any of those people, plus any parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of those people who requires support, plus any one additional person who lives alone at another address who requires support.
All businesses may remain open for regular operations but must follow measures listed under the mandatory order. This includes businesses that are not required to see proof of vaccination, such as hair salons, retail and grocery stores, and those that are required to request proof of vaccination, such as restaurants and entertainment venues. Children under 12 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult will also be admitted.
Mandatory order
A new mandatory order came into effect on Friday at 6 p.m. and is available online.
Regional breakdown of new cases
The 24 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· Nine people 19 and under;
· Three people 30-39;
· A person 40-49;
· Two people 50-59;
· A person 60-69;
· Six people 80-89; and
· Two people 90 and over.
Nineteen cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The eight cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
· Three people 19 and under;
· Two people 20-29;
· Two people 40-49; and
· A person 50-59.
Seven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and the other case is under investigation.
The 24 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· Eight people 19 and under;
· Two people 20-29;
· Two people 30-39;
· A person 40-49;
· Four people 50-59;
· Two people 60-69;
· A person 70-79;
· Three people 80-89; and
· A person 90 and over.
Nineteen cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 23 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· Two people 19 and under;
· Eight people 20-29;
· Three people 30-39;
· Three people 40-49;
· Two people 50-59;
· Three people 60-69; and
· Two people 70-79.
Thirteen cases are under investigation and 10 are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 12 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· A person 20-29;
· A person 30-39;
· A person 40-49;
· Five people 50-59;
· Two people 60-69;
· A person 70-79; and
· A person 80-89.
Ten cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two cases are under investigation.
The four new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
· A person 19 and under;
· Two people 30-39; and
· A person 50-59.
Three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and the other case is under investigation.
The three new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
· A person 19 and under;
· A person 40-49; and
· A person 50-59.
Two cases are under investigation and the other case is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
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 to get an appointment.
A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.
11-10-21