N. B. COVID-19 roundup: Province announces changes to testing protocols

The province's Department of Health has announced changes to testing protocols for COVID-19 in New Brunswick.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, announced Monday that testing wouldbe recommended for people exhibiting at least two of the following five symptoms:

• Fever above 38 C
• A new cough or worsening chronic cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Headache

Russell said the testing criteria has evolved based on the changesin risk. It was originally based around travel outside of Canada, then travel outside the province, and then higher risk populations. But throughout, community transmission has not been as high as seen in other provinces.

"Our indicators around the percentage of the population that would be affected most severely, we would see those people pop up in the hospital setting and we only have a small number of people hospitalized and in ICU right now.

So we know in other jurisdictions that severely affected percentage usually is a reflection of the total number of cases in the population."

Russell said expanded testing will ensure no one is being missed but added it would be hard to say if more cases of community transmission will be found.

"We're trying to be cautiously optimistic but we don't want to rest on our laurels. We're being prudent with the information we know today and the resources that we have that this is the right direction to go in according to the evolution of the risk."

She confirmed allsentinel testing done to date in hospitals and emergency rooms has resulted in negative test results.

2 new cases

The province has announced two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in New Brunswick up to 116.

Dr. Jennifer Russell said one of the new cases isin Zone 3, inthe Fredericton area, between the ages of 40 and 49. The second isa person between the ages of 50 and 59 in Zone 5, which is the Campbellton area.

The number of recoveries hovers around 74people.

"That is good news but it's not time to relax," Premier BlaineHiggs said.

Of the 116 cases, 66 are travel-related, 36 are close contacts of confirmed cases, seven are the result of community transmission and seven remain under investigation.

During the pandemic, 12 people have been hospitalized and seven have since been discharged. Three of the five patients remaining in hospital are in an intensive care unit.

26 tickets issued

This is the firstCOVID-19 news conferencesince Russell and Premier Blaine Higgs urgedresidents to stay home and avoid family gatherings over the Easter weekend.

Higgs said the majority of New Brunswickersweredoing what Public Health wasasking of them to flatten the curve and slow the spread ofCOVID-19.

There have been 26 tickets issued since the province's emergency declaration has been issued, with 17 of them issued over the past seven days with fines ranging from$292.50 to $10,200.

"A small number of people are still violating the rules," Higgs said.

But the premier said he was still more interested in educating people before giving them a ticket.

"That's not the goal to fine people more. The goal is to have people adhere to the rules now in place."

The premier said it will take two weeks to see if compliance over the Easter long weekend will help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Higgs also confirmed the province's state of emergency, set to last another week, will continue and will be done in two week increments.

"It'll be a decision that's made collectively by my co-committee colleagues, the leaders of the other parties and my cabinet. But it will be done in two week intervals upon any extension."

Restrictions eased?

Asked what it would take to begin easing restrictions, Higgs said restrictions could be eased or made stronger depending on the level of adherence to governmentmeasures and the results of expanded testing for COVID-19.

"Am I looking for a positive change? Am Ihoping for a positive change? Absolutely."

Higgs said if the numbers stay the way they are and the caseloads stay down, he's hopeful it can happen.

"Getting our economy back up and running, it's all about a balance and that's what we're in right now. I'll remain optimistic."

Here is a roundup of other developments.

Nursing home protection

Higgs said caring for seniors remains a priority for the government. Early on, the government closed nursing homes to allvisitors. Staff now have to follow a screening process prior to entering work including taking their temperature and answering screening questions.

Staff are receiving ongoing training on theproper use of personal protective equipment.

Nursing home residents with health issues are treated at the nursing home when possible toavoid any unnecessary transfers to hospitals.

Higgs said they are in constant communication with the N.B. Nursing Home Association

"We are continuing to monitor the situation in our nursing homes, and we will take additional measures if needed as the pandemic continues," said Higgs.

Nature Conservancy of Canada properties closed

TheNature Conservancy of Canada has closed all its properties to public access and is urging people to stay home.

In New Brunswick, some of those properties include the Johnson's Mills Shorebird Interpretive Centre near Sackville, theMusquash Estuary Nature Reserve near Saint John and the Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary

In a release, NCC said while "nature is important in our lives and good for our health and well-being, especially in stressful times", they are asking people to enjoy nature from home.

"Please stay home, andenjoy nature virtually. Watch our website for updates."

More people seeking mental health support

Since the COVID-19 outbreak first started, counsellors are seeing a jump in new clients looking for emotional support.

While some counsellors have decided to close their offices, others are finding creative ways to work with their clients. This could include everything from online Zoom conferences, creating YouTube channels or simply picking up the phone and havinga conversation.

"We're trying to do as much as we can," saidJoan Wright, senior psychologist andowner ofthe Joan Wright & Associates and MindShift clinic in the Fredericton area.

• Therapists offer mental health care from a distance as anxiety over COVID-19 grows

The Canadian Psychological Association is alsooffering mental healthsupport to front-line health service providers.A number of psychologists from each provincehave volunteered to provide psychological services to those individuals.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick is providing a number of free services for people struggling to maintaintheir mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Those include live webinars about topics such asself-compassion, copingwith anxiety,havinga healthy work-life balance and talking to children about COVID-19.

Theatre company asks for letters from self-isolation

Theatre New Brunswick wants people to share how they're coping with self-isolation duringthe COVID 19 pandemic.

The project is called,Dear Rona - Letters from Lockdown.

"Personally I'm getting to sewing projects Ialways wanted to do Ithink a lot of us are doing stuff like that,which is nice," saidNatasha MacLellan,Theatre New Brunswick's artistic director.

"Rediscovering your own house. All the books on your bookshelf you thought you would read someday."

• Early signs of decrease in garbage, despite increase in COVID-19 protective measures

The theatre group has plans to use those stories in a future performance project.

People can send their letters to Theatre New Brunswick's address or email dearrona@tnb.nb.ca

What to do if you have symptoms?

People concerned they might haveCOVID-19 cantake a self-assessmenton the government website. Symptoms of coronavirus include fever,a new or worseningcough,andbreathlessness, as well as sore throat, headache andrunny nose. People with symptoms are asked to:

• Stay at home.

• Immediately call Tele-Care 811.

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions carefully.