N.B. COVID-19 roundup: One new case reported Monday, vaccine doses arriving this week

The province is reporting one new case of COVID-19 on Monday.

The case is an individual 60-69 in the Moncton region (Zone 1) and is under investigation, according to Public Health.

There are a total of 59 active cases in New Brunswick, and140,098 tests have been conducted as of Monday.There are currently three people in hospital, two of them in intensive care.

Virus 'a slap in the face' for hospital, doctor says

Adoctor in northern New Brunswicksays he's frustrated bymisinformation spreadingabout COVID-19, especially since the Edmundston area moved back to the orange phase last week.

Dr. John Tobin, head of the family medicine department in Zone 4 for the Vitalite Health Network, has seen an increase of misinformation aboutthevirus.

He has seen suggestions that it isn't real, and thatmasks don't work and the newPfizer vaccine is just manipulation by the pharmaceutical industry.

"This thing is for real," said Tobin, who has been practising for almost 30 years.

"I've never seen anything like this in my entire career."

He's also seen a lot of people pointing fingersand is reminding them to be kind.

"To get through this pandemic, we need to be positive with each other," said Tobin, whose uncle is on a ventilator in Quebec right now.

The Edmundston area, also known as Zone four,moved into orange-level restrictions last week because of increased cases and an outbreak at the EdmundstonRegional Hospital.

Public Health has said seven of the cases are employees at the hospitaland 24 workers are self-isolating. Itwarns the hospital's ability to provide servicecould be impacted if case numbers were to rise.

"It's kind of like a slap in the face,"said Tobin. "This virus is really insidious and tends to come up when you least expect it."

• N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Edmundston region bumped to orange level, eighth person has died

Tobin wouldn't comment about the cases at the hospital because they're being investigated by New Brunswick Public Health.

He did say elective surgeries and appointments have been put on hold to deal with the virus. And hospital rooms are ready forpossible COVID-19 patients.

"We're pretty up to par and ready."

Although everything seems to be under control now, he expects a second and even a third round of COVID-19 tests to take place this week.

"We need to suspect every patient as a potential carrier."

Tobin said his team has been working hard since COVID-19 made its way into the Edmundston hospital. He's just hopeful they can keep going onadrenalin until vaccines are readily available.

"They're really work horses in here and they want to get through this as soon as possible," he said.

N.B.'s first shipment of vaccine to arrive this week

New Brunswick's first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is set to arrive this week, and avaccination clinic is scheduled to take place in Miramichion Saturday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 20.

Those eligible for the first 1,950 doses are being contacted directly through their employer or nursing home, according to the Department of Health.

As with other provinces, New Brunswick is basing its prioritization and sequencing on the work of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommendations on key populations to be immunized first including health-care workers in direct contact with patients and nursing home residents.

Exposure notification

Public Health added three new flights Friday to its list of possible exposures. A person who has tested positive may have been infectious while travelling on Dec. 4 on the following flights:

• Air Canada Flight 8372from Fort McMurray to Calgary.
• Air Canada Flight 144from Calgary to Toronto.
• Air Canada Flight 8918from Toronto to Moncton.

Anyone who travelled on these flights should "continue to follow the directives given to them during the travel registration process and when they entered New Brunswick," the advisory said.

What to do if you have a symptom

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

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

• A fever above 38 C.

• A 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.

• Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions.