N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Vaccine passport could be on its way, but Higgs sees no urgency

New Brunswick is not ready to start a vaccine passport program, but one may be coming anywayso the province can bein sync with other parts of Canada, Premier Blaine Higgs says.

Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell held a news briefing Wednesday, where they reiterated their appeals to unvaccinatedNew Brunswickersto get their shots and didn't answer questions with any degree of detail.

"For those who have not yet gotten vaccinated, we urge you to do so,"Higgs said. "A vaccine passport could be a way of doing that."

But he sees no urgent need tojump on the passport trend apparent in Quebec, B.C. and Manitoba, even as a way to increase the vaccination rate.

"Given wherewe arewith the pandemic and where we are with the case count and the hospitalizations, it would say no further action is required to ensure we encourage more vaccinations," Higgs said. "Because we'reseeing more vaccinations now. Our numbers are going up,but they're not where we want them to be."

Premier talks vaccine passports in New Brunswick

3 years ago

Duration 1:36

Premier Blaine Higgs says a vaccine passport program may be coming so New Brunswick can be in sync with other provinces.

If New Brunswick does adopt a passport program, it would likely be a system that allowed vaccinations to be verified through a government website.The main issue driving the passport discussion now underway is the need for mobility. New Brunswickers may need passports because other provinces are starting to require them, Higgs said.

TheB.C. government saidit wasseeing a massive increase in interest in the COVID-19 vaccine since announcing anew program to require proof of vaccination for a wide range of social and recreational activities.

Last week,the number of people registering for the vaccination program or booking appointments each dayjumped by as much as 201 per cent compared to theweek prior.

Meanwhile, Quebec's vaccine passport system starts WednesdayandOntario said residents will soon have to show proof of full vaccination to dine inside restaurants, or go to gyms and theatres.

"If you want to travel outside New Brunswick it may become necessary," said Higgs. "If Quebec is requiring a passport, then they're likely going to require a passport from New Brunswick travellers."

Unlike Quebec, if New Brunswickwere to introducea vaccine passport, Higgs said, businesses would stillbe able to choose whether to use the system.

• COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for New Brunswick health-care workers Sept. 7, memo says
• Air quality at 60 schools with no ventilation system 'within the safe range,' province says

"Today, in our situation, we would not see the need for that," he said. "If we saw an outbreak that could change what is required."

The province's vaccination rate has reached75.5 per cent for people 12 or over, and Higgs said the recentincrease could be related to students returning to school next week.

He said all the COVID-related numbers, including the increased cases, that New Brunswick is seeing now are just as the province predicted when it moved to the restriction-free green phase of recovery at the end of July.

He and Russell both praised New Brunswickersfor hitting the goal of a 75 per cent vaccination target earlier this week, but Russell would not say if there is a new target the provinceshould reach to feel comfortable.She would only say the more people who are vaccinated the better.

"Obviously the highest number possible," she said.

127 active cases of COVID-19

The province announced11 new cases today and127 active cases.

The new cases break down this way:

Five new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region):

• three people 20 to 29
• two people 30 to 39

Four cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and one case is under investigation.

Two new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region):

• one person 19 and under
• one person 30 to 39.

One case is a contact of a previously confirmed case and one case is under investigation.

One new case in Zone 4(Edmundston region):

• One person 19 and under

This person is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Three new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region):

• one person 19 and under
• one person 30 to 39
• one person 70 to 79

One case is travel-related and two cases are under investigation.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said90 per cent of new cases in New Brunswick arepeopleeither unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

Public Health doesn't break down that group any further when it provides its case counts, so it's not clear what proportion of these unvaccinated cases are under 12 or people who can't be vaccinated for medical or other reasons.

Russell said she would ask her staff to look into making that information available.

Changing mask message

Cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick have been rising, but when asked for guidance on mask use, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, said people should make their own decisions.

In fact, until asked, neither she nor Premier Blaine Higgs mentioned the "strong" recommendation made last week by Dr. Cristin Muecke, the deputy chief medical officerof health, that people wear masks inside public spaces. This came after 14 cases of community transmissions of the disease were reported.

"Thechoice is yours whether you choose to wear a mask in indoor public spaces," Russellsaid Thursday.

• N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Announcement on 3rd vaccine doses coming soon, says Russell

Conditions are fluid, she said.

Higgs also emphasized personal choice but said he wouldn't rule out a mask mandate if the need arose.

Neither Higgs nor Russell could provide specific numbers that would lead to a policy change, either on masks or vaccinations.

"Obviously, people who aren't vaccinated are at higher risk," she said. "If you have somebody in your household who's vulnerable or who hasn't been able to be vaccinated we definitely encourage that."

3rd dose of vaccine under study

Public Health has been looking at third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for several months, says Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health.

She said her staff are looking at providing third doses to New Brunswickers who are immunocompromised, such as transplant recipients.

"They will need three doses to be fully protected against COVID-19," she said.

She said discussions are happening now on how tomove forward.

Public Health is also looking at booster doses for residents living in long term-care facilities.

"For those first people who were vaccinated it will be important to get them done first."

New possible exposures

Public Health has identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flight:

• Aug.27 Air Canada Flight8904 from Montreal to Moncton,departed at 10:28 p.m.

Public Health has also identified new places in New Brunswickwhere people may have been exposed to the coronavirus:

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Aug. 31 between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Wise Guyz Pub,176 Robinson St., Moncton
• Aug.28 Hynes Restaurant,495 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug.26 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Catch 22,589 Main St., Moncton

Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Aug.27 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Walmart,900 St. Anne St., Bathurst
• Aug. 26 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Joey's Pub & Eatery,2050 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst

Previous exposure notices

Public Health has identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flights:

• Aug.24 Air Canada Flight 8904 from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 8 p.m.
• Aug.21 Air Canada Flight7548 from Toronto to Frederictondeparted at 10:25 p.m.
• Aug.19Air Canada Flight 7548 from Toronto to Fredericton
• Aug.19 Air Canada Flight 8902 from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 1:38 p.m.
• Aug. 17 Air Canada Flight 8902 from Montreal to Moncton
• Aug.17 Air Canada Flight 8506 from Montreal to Fredericton, departed 7:45 p.m.

Public Health has also identified places in New Brunswickwhere people may have been exposed to the coronavirus duringthe past two weeks.

Moncton region:

• Aug.28 between 1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Dollarama,105 Main St., Moncton
• Aug.28 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Superstore,165 Main St., Moncton
• Aug.27 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Costco,140 Granite Dr., Moncton
• Aug.25 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Homestead Restaurant(358 Coverdale Rd., Riverview)
• Aug.25 between 8 p.m. and midnight Miss Cue,459 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 24 between 5:47 p.m. and 3:52 a.m. Moncton City Hospital Emergency Room,135 Macbeath Ave.,Moncton
• Aug. 22 between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dixie Lee Family Restaurant,9369 Main St., Richibucto
• Aug.22 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. St. James' Gate,200 Golf St., Dieppe
• Aug. 20 between 10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. Casino NB,21 Casino Dr.,Moncton
• Aug.20 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Costco Wholesale Moncton,140 Granite Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 20 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Guy's Frenchys,1567 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 20 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Pump House Restaurant,51 Orange Lane, Moncton
• Aug.15 between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., Aug.17 between noon and 1 p.m., Aug.18 between noon and 1p.m. and Aug.19 between noon and 1p.m. Route 51 Green Line and Route 62 Hildegard CodiacTranspo, 140 Millennium Blvd., Moncton
• Aug.18 between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Igloo Bar, 300 Elmwood Dr., Moncton
• Aug.18 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Aug,16 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., Aug.13 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Aug.11 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Aug.10 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. -Crowne Plaza Moncton, 1005 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 17 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tide and Boar Brewing,1355 Main St., Moncton
• Aug.16 between 5 and 7 p.m. Boathouse Restaurant,8588 Main St., Alma
• Aug.16 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Burger King,465 Paul St., Dieppe
• Aug.16 between 12 p.m and 7 p.m Magic Mountain Water Park,2875 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 15 between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Jean's Restaurant,1999 Mountain Rd., Moncton

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Aug.26 between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. O'Leary's Pub,46 Princess St., Saint John
• Aug.17 and 18 Fairway Inn and JJ's Diner,216 Roachville Rd., Sussex
• Aug.17 between 3 p.m. and6 p.m.On the Vine Produce, 1350 Hickey Rd., Saint John
• Aug.17 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.Greco, 1350 Hickey Rd., Saint John
• Aug.16 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Gateway Mall,138 Main St., Sussex
• Aug.15 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.Costco Wholesale Saint John,300 Retail Dr., Saint John

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Aug.28 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The MacShack(22 Irishtown Rd., Stanley)
• Aug.26 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Valley Veterinary Hospital(2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug.25 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Shear Beauty Salon & Spa(155 King St., Fredericton)
• Aug.25 between noon and 9 p.m. Valley Veterinary Hospital(2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug.23 and 24 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Valley Veterinary Hospital(2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug. 22 between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Riverbend Golf Course, 541 Route 628, Durham Bridge
• Aug. 21 between noonand 2 p.m. Boston Pizza, 1230 Prospect St., Fredericton
• Aug.20 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Ayr Motor Express,46 Poplar St., Woodstock
• Aug.19 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ayr Motor Express,46 Poplar St., Woodstock
• Aug.19 between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. Fredericton International Airport, arrivals area,2570 Route 102 Highway, Lincoln
• Aug.18 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Carleton County Court House,689 Main St.,Woodstock
• Aug.11, 12, 13, 16, and 17 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Springhill Infrastructure Asphalt,940 Springhill Rd., Fredericton
• Aug.15 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Grand Falls Cataracts, Baseball Diamond between Chapel Rd and Victoria Rd, Grand Falls

Edmundston region, Zone 4:

• Between Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 Camping St-Lonard,470 Route 17, St Lonard
• Between Aug.20 and Aug. 27 Pinky's Roadside Diner,470 Route 17, St Lonard
• Aug. 26 March Bonichoix Saint-Quentin,145 Canada Rd., Saint-Quentin
• Aug.25 and 26 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Hotel Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-QuentinHospital,21 Canada Rd., Saint-Quentin
• Aug.18 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Piste Athltisme Robert Thibault,210 Mgr Martin-Est Rd., Saint-Quentin

Campbellton region, Zone 5:

• Aug.24 Sport Expert,100 Roseberry St., Campbellton
• Aug. 24 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. -Inch Aaran Park, 125 Inch Arran Ave., Dalhousie
• Aug.24 between 9:30 a.m. to noon Sugarloaf Mall,312 Val D'amour Rd., Campbellton
• Aug.24 at 8:30 a.m. Circle K Irving,143 Val D'Amour Rd., Campbellton

Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Aug.24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Bathurst Mall,1300 St-Pierre Rd., Bathurst
• Aug.24 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dixie Lee Restaurant,1224 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Marshall's,700 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug.24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aubainerie Bathurst,1300 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug.21 between midnight and 3 a.m. Party la Youpi with DJ Saulnier,Army Camp, Leech
• Aug.18 and 19 Camping et Aquaparc de la Rivire Tracadie,3205 Alcide Rd., Tracadie
• Aug.18 between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Nigadoo Falls Trail,Nigadoo
• Aug. 16 between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. La Trappe,Vieux Couvent, Caraquet
• Aug.15 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. La Brkerie,39 du Carr Ave., Caraquet

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• Aug.22 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Gallan's Miramichi River Tubing,48 Kersey Lane, Doyles Brook
• Aug.19 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sailor and Jane Eatery,1 Jane St., Miramichi
• Aug. 19 between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jean Coutu Pharmacy,4 Johnson Ave., Miramichi
• Aug.19 between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Gallan's Miramichi River Tubing,48 Kersey Lane, Doyles Brook

The full list of possible exposuresis updated regularly and is available on the government's website.

What to do if you have a symptom

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

Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and 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 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.