NB COVID-19 report: 237 new cases Wednesday; extends recall eligibility

New Brunswick reported 237 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, along with 98 recoveries, bringing the total number of active infections to 1,406.

Public health has also reported another death related to COVID-19, involving a person in their 60s in the Fredericton area (Zone 3).

Among Wednesday’s new cases:

• 57 are in the Moncton area (Zone 1)
• 96 are in the Saint John area (Zone 2)
• 41 are in the Fredericton area (Zone 3)
• 22 are in the Edmundston region (Zone 4)
• 2 are in the Campbellton area (Zone 5)
• 8 are in the Bathurst area (Zone 6)
• 11 are in the Miramichi area (Zone 7)

“The high number of cases today is not surprising. We are seeing the same thing happening in the jurisdictions around us, which is why it is essential that people follow public health measures, ”Dr. Jennifer Russell, Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a press release. “I know people are tired, but it’s the little things we all do to reduce contact that can help slow the spread. Additionally, wear a properly fitted mask, stay physically distant, only go out when you absolutely need it, and reserve your booster shot as soon as you are eligible. “

There are 40 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in New Brunswick, including 17 in intensive care. Among those hospitalized, 24 are over 60 years old and 11 people are on a ventilator. There is no one under 19 hospitalized.

Five of the 40 people hospitalized were initially admitted for other reasons and contracted COVID-19 from outbreaks in hospitals in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton and Miramichi.

To date, New Brunswick has confirmed 86 cases of the Omicron variant. Health officials say tests are underway to determine the number of other cases of the variant in the province.

The province says there will be no COVID-19 press release or updated dashboard on December 25, December 26, January 1 and January 2.

Information for those days will be provided on December 27 and January 3.

ENLARGEMENT OF THE ELIGIBILITY OF A REMINDER DOSE

To further protect healthcare and education facilities, eligibility for booster doses has been expanded to include the following individuals if they are 18 years of age and older and if 158 days have passed since their second dose of COVID vaccine- 19:

• Immediate family members of anyone working in a long-term care facility, hospital or school.
• People working in day care centers and members of their immediate families.

Additional booster clinics are available at regional health authority community vaccination clinics and participating pharmacies.

A detailed list of those eligible for a booster dose is also available. in line.

Immunization clinics will continue to accept walk-in visits in the days leading up to Christmas and New Years. Clinic opening hours and dates can be found online.

More than three million rapid tests have been administered to New Brunswickers since December 8 in schools, workplaces, airports and pickup sites. Information on pick-up locations, including their opening hours during holidays, is available online.

UPDATE ON SCHOOLS, CHILD CARE

Due to the winter break in schools and some early learning and child care facilities, information on affected schools on the Healthy and Safe Schools Website and on the COVID-19 Dashboard will not be updated between December 24 and January 9. Regular updates will resume on January 10.

During the holidays, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s outbreak management team will continue to notify families of students who were in schools affected by the virus. Close contacts of cases in schools or daycares will be contacted directly.

LEVEL 2 RESTRICTIONS

Based on a public health recommendation, all areas of New Brunswick will move to Level 2 of the COVID-19 Winter Plan.

The level 2 crossing will take effect on Monday, December 27 at 11:59 p.m. and the following restrictions will be in place:

• The current focus plus Steady 20 is replaced by the focus plus Steady 10.
• Customers who dine in restaurants must show proof of vaccination and tables must be at least two meters apart.
• Restaurants, retail stores, malls, businesses, gyms, salons and spas and entertainment centers can continue to operate, but at 50% capacity and with two meters distance between customers.
• For public gatherings, venues cannot host events with more than 150 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less.
• Places of worship can operate at 50% capacity and with physical distance. Choirs are not permitted, but a soloist can perform if they are at least four meters from the assembly.
• All travelers, including returning New Brunswickers, must register or have a multi-use pass. Travelers arriving by air will receive a rapid test kit.
• Unvaccinated people entering the province should self-isolate and be tested on day 10. International travelers should follow federal testing and isolation guidelines and should be tested on days 5 and 10.
• Travelers should follow public health measures while in New Brunswick, including wearing a mask, physical distancing and adhering to a Steady 10.

UPDATING THE VACCINE

Health officials say 82.7% of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 89.7% have received their first dose and 15.6% have received a booster dose.

CONTACT TRACING

As of Tuesday, contact tracers will no longer notify close contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19. It will now be the responsibility of those infected.

Public health contact tracers will now only contact the person who tested positive, or their employer, and provide them with isolation and testing advice, as well as instructions on how to notify their close contacts for help. of letter templates. Public health will only intervene for contact notifications if no other means are available.

Dr Russell says public health will take specific action to limit the spread of cases in schools. When an infection is confirmed at a K-8 school, the whole school will be considered close contacts. All students and staff will be required to take daily point-of-service testing. In high schools, this rule will apply to the classes of the infected student and those traveling on the same school bus.

POTENTIAL PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

A complete list of notifications of potential COVID-19 exposure in New Brunswick can be found on the province’s website. website.

Anyone showing symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exhibition, is encouraged to request a test online or call Tele-Care on 811 for an appointment.