N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 7 new cases, more than 50% of New Brunswickers have had 1st dose

The province has seven new cases of COVID-19 and more than half of eligible New Brunswickers have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Public Health reported Thursday.

A total of 351,205 people, or 50.7 per cent, of peopleaged 12or older, have had at least one shot, according to theprovince's dashboard.

Of the three Maritime provinces, New Brunswick has the highest percentage of its population vaccinated for first doses, said Department of Health spokesperson Shawn Berry.

In Nova Scotia, it's about 46 per cent and in P.E.I. it's roughly 44 per cent.

New Brunswick's goal has been to have at least one dose in the arms of all eligible New Brunswickers by July 1, and second doses by September.

"With more vaccine arriving in the province, we are on track to start second doses by mid-June which will be slightly ahead of the 14-week interval," Berry said in an emailed statement.

Premier Blaine Higgstold reportershe's "feeling good" about the vaccination rate. He noted another single-day record was set Thursday, with some 12,000 doses administered.

Earlier this week, the province opened up eligibility to include people aged 18 and older.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy has said the province hopes to lower the eligibility age even further in the coming days. His department is working with Public Healthon a vaccine rollout plan for all those 12 orolder.

Children aged 12 to 15 who have acomplex medical conditionortwo or more chronic conditions are already eligible.

117 active cases

Since Wednesday, six more New Brunswickershave recovered from COVID-19, putting the province's total number of active cases at 117, said Public Health.

Six peopleare hospitalized in New Brunswick, including two in an intensive care unit. Another residentis hospitalized out of province in an intensive care unit.

The breakdown of the seven new cases reported Thursday is as follows:

Moncton region, Zone 1, two cases:

• A person 40-49.
• A person 70-79.

Both cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, two cases:

• A person 19 orunder.
• A person 30-39.

Both cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Bathurst region, Zone 6, two cases:

• Two people 20-29.

One case is travel-related and the other is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Miramichi region, Zone 7, one case:

• A person 20-29.

This case is under investigation.

New Brunswick has had 2,098 confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 1,937recoveries so far and 43 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 319,871COVIDtests have been conducted, including1,581 on Wednesday.

'Steady as she goes' in Fredericton, says premier

Public Health will provide a live briefingon COVID-19 Friday, which will include an update on the situation in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, Higgs told reporters Thursday morning.

Fredericton is battling a growingclusterof cases at the Delta Fredericton, anoutbreak at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation and Veterans Health Unit, positive cases at four schools and a child-care facility.

At least two COVID variants of concern are circulating the one first reported in India and the one first reported in the U.K.Numerouspotential public exposure noticeshave been issued and about 1,900 people are self-isolating, as of Wednesday.

As of that time, there was no plan to bump the region back to the orange or red COVID alert level, Higgssaid.

"We're watching really closely and that could change quickly," he said."But right now it's steady as she goes."

Higgs said he believes thevaccination ratehasplayed a significantrole in keeping case counts in the region in check. He drew a comparison to the earlieroutbreak in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, which required a full lockdown.

"I think we were below 30 per cent at the time there, maybe in the lower 20s. So having a higher level vaccination rate in [the] city at this time has been, I would say, very helpful," he said.

Extended at-home learning for Leo Hayes students

All students at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton will continue to learn online from home until next Wednesday,and return next Thursday to in-person learning as laid out in the school's rotational schedule,according to a noticesent to families Thursday afternoon.

"The continuation of online learning is in response to operational reasons related to staffing (many self-isolating) and in conjunction with the positive COVID-19 cases at the school,"superintendentDavid McTimoneyof the Anglophone West School District said in the email.

Two positive cases were detected at the school last Wednesday.A third positive case was confirmed at the school last weekend,but as of the last public update from government officials Tuesday, Public Health has found noin-school transmission.

The school has more than 1,500 students in grades 9 to 12, according to its website.

If any children are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, McTimoney said parents should request a test onlinefor them or call Tele-Care 811.

"A sincere thanks for your patience and resilience throughout this time," he said.

66 Horizon staff off in Fredericton

Sixty-six Horizon Health Network employees in the Fredericton area are off work Thursday because of the COVID-19 outbreak at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation and Veterans Health Unit.

That's 18 more than Wednesday.

The hospital has two COVID-19 patients and is at 86 per cent capacity, according to an update posted by the regional health authority.

The occupancy rates at the other hospitals in the Fredericton region "remain high," Horizon said. TheOromocto Public Hospital is listed at 100 per cent, andthe Upper River Valley Hospital, 117 per cent.

New public exposures

Public Health has identified potential public exposures to the coronavirus at the following locations and dates in the Fredericton region:

• Scholten's, 325 Sunset Dr., Fredericton, onMay 17 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Atlantic Superstore, 116 Main St., Fredericton, onMay 16 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Progressive Credit Union, 395 Connell Rd., Woodstock, on May 13, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• A&W, 1018 Prospect St., Fredericton, on May 12, between noon and 2 p.m.
• University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus, residence administration building, 20 Bailey Dr., Fredericton, onMay 11andMay 12,between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Sobeys, 463 Brookside Dr., Fredericton, on May 11,between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Public Health is offeringCOVID-19 testing to anyone who has been in apublic exposure area, even it they're not experiencing any symptoms. Residents mayrequest a test onlineor callTele-Care 811 to book an appointment.

People experiencing one or more symptom are also encouraged to get tested.

Previous public exposures

Fredericton:

• Tony Pepperoni, 510 Brookside Dr., onMay 11,between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• The Drome, 301 Main St., onMay 11,between 8:45 p.m. and 11 p.m.
• NB Power, 515 King St., onMay 12,between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Sobeys Fast Fuel, 530 Brookside Dr., onMay 12,between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Costco, 25 Wayne Squibb Blvd., onMay 12,between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. andMay 13,between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Giant Tiger, 1160 Smythe St., onMay 13,between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Scholten's, 325 Sunset Dr., onMay 13,between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• McMath Law Office, 406 Regent St., onMay 14,between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Fredericton Mitsubishi, 327 St. Mary's St., onMay 14,between 10:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Pizza Delight, 243 St. Mary's St., onMay 14, between noonand 2 p.m.
• The Abbey Caf, 546 Queen St., onMay 14,between noon and 12:30 p.m.
• Scotiabank, 490 King St., onMay 14,between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Sobeys, 1180 Prospect St., onMay 14,between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
• Cannon's Cross Pub, 15 Riverside Dr., onMay 14,between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market, 665 George St., on May 15 between 10 a.m. and noon
• Moores Clothing, 1150 Prospect St., onMay 15,between 11 a.m. and noon.
• Home Depot, 1450 Regent St., onMay 15,between noon and 1 p.m.
• Montana's, 6 Trinity Ave., on May 2, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• WolastoqWharf, 527 Union St., on May 9, between noon and 2:30 p.m.
• McDonald's Restaurant, 1177 Prospect St., on May 14, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
• Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and the Pickle Jar Restaurant, 620 Queen St., from May 11 to May 16

Harvey:

• KubbyholeCraft Shop, 1879 Route 3, on May 7, between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Nackawic:

• Cal's Independent Grocer, 135 Otis Dr., on May 14, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Waasis:

• Irving Big Stop Blue Canoe restaurant, 415 Nevers Rd., onMay 14, between 10:30 a.m. and noon.

Public Health has identified a potential public exposure to the virus at the following location and date inEdmundston:

• JeanCoutu, 177 Victoria St., on May 15, between noon and 1 p.m.

Public Health has identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious while on the following flights:

• Air Canada Flight 314 from Vancouver to Montreal, departed at 11:24 p.m. onMay 11.
• Air Canada Flight 8902 from Montreal toMoncton, departed at 1:06 p.m. onMay 12.

The province has also listed another flight with a passenger who has tested positive forCOVID-19 on May 7.

• Air Canada Flight 318 from Calgary to Montreal, departed at 11 a.m.

Other exposure notifications

Public Health has identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on May 6 while on the following flights:

• Air Canada Flight 396 from Edmonton to Toronto, departed at 6:50 a.m.
• Air Canada Flight 8898 from Toronto to Moncton, departed at 8:43 p.m.

Public Health has identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on May 10while on the following flight.

• Air Canada Flight 8946from Toronto to Moncton, departed at 8:47 p.m.

Public Health has identified a potential public exposure to the coronavirus at the following locations and dates in the following regions:

Monctonregion:

• Pumphouse, 5 Orange Ln., Moncton, onMay 4between 8 and 10 p.m.
• Staples, 233 Main St., Moncton, onMay 5,between noon and 8 p.m.
• Walmart Supercentre, 477 Paul St., Dieppe, onMay 6, between 7 and 10 p.m.
• Greco Pizza, 311 Acadie Blvd., Dieppe, onMay 7, between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Greco Pizza, 120KillamDr.,Moncton, onMay 5, between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m.,May 3,between 5p.m. and 1a.m., andMay 2,between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m.
• Greco Pizza, 311AcadieBlvd., Dieppe, onMay 4, between 4 p.m. and11p.m.
• Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre emergency department, 330UniversitAve.,Moncton, onMay 7,between 2-9:30 p.m., andMay 6,between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Saint John region:

• Foodland,1 Market Sq.,Quispamsis, onMay 3,between 4 p.m. and 5p.m.
• Circle K, 309 River Valley Dr., Grand Bay-Westfield, between 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 7, and 1 a.m. on Saturday, May 8.

Fredericton region:

• My Home Consignment,5 Acorn St., Fredericton May 8between 10 a.m. and 4p.m.,May 7between 10 a.m. and 5p.m.,May 6between 10a.m. and 5p.m., and May 5 between 10a.m. and 5p.m.
• Sobeys, 1180 Prospect St., Fredericton,May 8between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Lunar Rogue, 625 King Ave., FrederictonApril 28 between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Fix Auto, 156GreenviewDr.,HanwellMay 6between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.,April 30between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.,April 29between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., andApril 28between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Lunar Rogue, 625 King St., Fredericton, onApril 28,between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
• Fix Auto, 156GreenviewDr.,Hanwell, onMay 6,between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.,April 30,between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.,April 29,between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. andApril 28,between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• McDonald's Restaurant, 1177 Prospect St., onMay 5, at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• McDonald's Restaurant in Walmart, 125 Two Nations Crossing, onMay 6, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Brainfix Clinic, 56 Avonlea Crt., onMay 6.
• Adica Massage Clinic, 152 King St., onMay 6.
• Williams Chiropractic, 169 Main St., onMay 6.
• Simms Home Hardware Building Centre, 190 King St., onMay 6.
• Costco Gas Bar, 5 Wayne Squibb Blvd., onMay 6.
• Massage Experts, 169 Dundonald St., onMay 6,from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and onMay 7, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Delta Fredericton, 225 Woodstock Rd., on May 6-12.
• STMR. 36 Restaurant Delta Fredericton, 225 Woodstock Rd., on May 6-12.
• Jack's Pizza, 379 King St., onMay 7, at 1 p.m.
• Mitch Clarke Skate Park, 116 Johnston Ave., onMay 7,from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Garrison Skatepark, York Street parking lot, onMay 7, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• James Joyce Pub, 659 Queen St., onMay 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• McDonald's Restaurant, 94 Main St., onMay 7, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. andMay 8, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Princess Auto, 21 Trinity Ave., onMay 8, from 8 a.m. to noon.
• Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton St., onMay 8, from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Northside Market, 170 Main St., onMay 9,from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Irving Oil, 181 King St., onMay 9, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Dollarama, 5 Trinity Dr., onMay 9,from noon to 2 p.m.
• NB Liquor, 18 Trinity Dr., onMay 9, from noon to 5 p.m.
• Home Sense, 18 Trinity Dr., onMay 9, from noon to 5 p.m.
• Tim Hortonsdrive-thru,Regent Street, onMay 10, at 1:30 p.m.
• Atlantic Superstore, 471 Smythe St, onMay 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. andMay 11, from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, 700 PriestmanSt., on May 10-11.
• Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, 800 PriestmanSt., on May 10-11.
• Veterans Health Unit, 680 PriestmanSt., on May 10-11.
• Shoppers Drug Mart, 1040 Prospect St., onMay 11, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Scott's Nursery, 2192 Route 102, onMay 8, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might haveCOVID-19 symptoms cantake a self-assessment test online.

Public Health says symptoms shown by people withCOVID-19 have included:

• Fever above 38 C.

• New cough or worsening chronic cough.

• Sore throat.

• Runny nose.

• Headache.

• New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.

• Difficulty breathing.

In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.

People with one of those symptoms should:

• Stay at home.

• CallTele-Care 811 or their doctor.

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions.