N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 2 deaths, 133 new cases as new restrictions begin

New Brunswick announced two more deaths related toCOVID-19on Saturday and 133 new cases of the virus.

Two people in the Miramichi region have died, including one person aged 60 to 69 and another between 80 and 89, the province said in a release.

The new cases are spread across all seven health regions and bring the total number of active cases in New Brunswick to of 1,232. There are 154 peoplereported as recovered from the virus.

This comes asinterim COVID-19 measuresto slow the spread of the Omicronvariant came intoeffect on Saturday.

The measures include limiting contacts to a steady group of 20, the reinstatement of physical distancing in public spaces indoors, and reduced capacity at venues like movie theatres, sporting arenas and casinos.

There were no new cases of Omicron reported in the province Saturday.

Forty people are in hospital in New Brunswickwith COVID-19, a decrease of five. There are 13people in intensive care, down one.

There are seven people requiring ventilators,which is unchanged from the last update.

"Six of the 40 people hospitalized were initially admitted for other reasons and contracted COVID-19 due to outbreaks at hospitals in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton and Miramichi," Public Health said in a release. "Most of these people are exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms.

"The rate of people hospitalized and in ICU, as well as new cases, continues to most greatly impact people who are unvaccinated. "

No one in hospital is under the age of 19.

A total of 82.6per centof eligible New Brunswickersarefully vaccinated against COVID, up from 82.5 per cent, and89.3 per cent have receivedtheir first dose, up from89.1 per cent.

The update shows 12.8 per centof those eligible havereceived a booster dose, up from11.9 per cent.

Among childrenaged five to 11 years old,35.5per cent have received their first dose, up from 34.2 per cent.

A full list of walk-in clinicsis available online. No clinics are currently scheduled between Dec. 24 and Dec. 27 because of the holidays.

People can also schedule an appointment at a regional health authority clinic through theonline booking systemor at aparticipating pharmacy.

Breakdown of new cases

The regional breakdown of the new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Saturday includes:

Moncton region, Zone 1 18cases:

• Four children under the age of nine.
• Twopeople under 19.
• Four people 20-29.
• Threepeople 30-39.
• Two people40-49.
• One person 50-59.
• One person 70-79.
• One person 80-89.

Saint John region, Zone 2 60cases:

• 10 children under the age of nine.
• 12 people under 19.
• Six people 20-29.
• 11 people 30-39.
• Six people40-49.
• Seven people50-59.
• Six people 60-69.
• One person 70-79.

Fredericton region, Zone 3 24cases:

• Two children under the age of nine.
• Five people under 19.
• One person 20-29.
• Seven people 30-39.
• Four people40-49.
• One person50-59.
• Four people 60-69.
• One person 80-89.

Edmundston region, Zone 4 sixcases:

• One person under 19.
• One person 20-29.
• Two people40-49.
• One person50-59.
• Oneperson60-69.
• One person 80-89.

Campbellton region, Zone 5 threecases:.

• One childunder the age of nine.
• One person30-39.
• One person 50-59.

Bathurst region, Zone 6 sevencases:

• One person under 19.
• One person30-39.
• Two people 40-49.
• One person 50-59.
• One person 70-79.
• One person 80-89.

Miramichi region, Zone 7 15cases:

• Two childrenunder the age of nine.
• Four people 20-29.
• One person 30-39.
• Six people 50-59.
• Two people 60-69.

New Brunswick has recorded10,446confirmed cases of COVID-19since the beginning of the pandemic, with 9,064recoveries.

A total of591,021tests have been conducted to date, including 2,155since Friday.

Case at Edmundstonhigh school

There is a case of COVID-19 at the Cit des Jeunes A.-M.-Sormanyhigh schoolin Edmundston, its school district said on Saturday.

Students will be able to return to class on Mondayunless Public Health indicates otherwise.The last day of class before the holidays is onThursday.

"Contact tracing amongstudents who have been in close contact with the virus at our school is now complete. Theyhave beennotified by Public Healthwith have received the instructions on how to proceed," the Francophone Nord-Ouest School District wrote in a post to parents on Facebook.

Atlantic COVID roundup

• Nova Scotiaannounced 426new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, another record high for the province this week.There is no new information about hospitalizations. As of Friday, seven people were in hospital, including two in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 23 new cases on Saturday, with no one in hospital related to the virus.
• Prince Edward Islandreported 31 new cases on Friday, a single-day record for the province.There are 75active cases, P.E.I.'s highest active case count since the pandemic was declared.

Public exposures declared on Saturday

The province also shared new exposure sites on Saturday, with the highest number mentioned in the Fredericton area.

Moncton region, Zone 1

• Dec.13, Between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM -Goodlife Fitness(555 Dieppe Blvd., Dieppe)
• Dec.13, Between 6 PM and midnight -Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre(330 Universit Ave., Moncton)
• Dec.12, Between 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM -Ole Hibachi(790 Dieppe Blvd., Dieppe)

Saint John region, Zone 2

• Dec. 16, Between 9 AM and 11 AM -Saint John Regional Hospital; Department of Oncology radiation outpatient services(400 University Ave., Saint John)
• Dec.15, Between 8 AM and 10 AM -Saint John Regional Hospital; Department of Oncology radiation outpatient services(400 University Ave., Saint John)
• Dec. 14, Between 8 AM and 10 AM -Saint John Regional Hospital; Department of Oncology radiation outpatient services(400 University Ave., Saint John)

Fredericton region, Zone 3

• Dec.14, Between 3 PM and 4 PM -Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy(348 King St., Fredericton)
• Dec.13, Between 10 AM and 5:30 PM -Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy(348 King St., Fredericton)
• Dec.12, Between 4 PM and 5 PM -Willie O'Ree Place(605 Cliffe St., Fredericton)
• Dec.12, Between 4 PM and 6 PM -Trailway Bowl-a-Drome(301 Main St., Fredericton)
• Dec.12, Between 1 PM and 2:30 PM -Tobique-Plex skating(159 Main St., Plaster Rock)
• Dec.12, Between 12 PM and 1:30 PM -Pizza Delight(403 Connell St., Woodstock)
• Dec.12, Between 6 AM and 11 AM -Delta Fredericton restaurant(225 Woodstock Rd., Fredericton)
• Dec. 11, Between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM -Pizza Delight(243 Saint Marys St., Fredericton)
• Dec.11, Between 1:45 PM and 4:30 PM -Fredericton Playhouse(686 Queen St., Fredericton)
• Dec.11, Between 5 PM and 7 PM -Ringo's Bar & Grill(1185 Smythe St., Fredericton)
• Dec. 11, Between 6 PM and 7 PM -Regent Mall Food Court(1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
• Dec.11, Between 7 PM and 10 PM -Grimross Brewery(600 Bishop Dr., Fredericton)
• Dec.11, Between 7 PM and 8 PM -Delta Fredericton pool(225 Woodstock Rd., Fredericton)
• Dec.11, Between 11 AM and 1:30 PM -Nackawic Arena(152 Otis Dr., Nackawic)
• Dec. 11, Between 8:30 AM and 5 PM -Atlantic Superstore(1150 Onondaga St., Oromocto)
• Dec.10, Between 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM -PetSmart(1124 Prospect St., Fredericton)
• Dec. 9, Between 6 PM and 9 PM -Jungle Jim's(1168 Smythe St. , Fredericton)
• Dec.8, Between 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM -Tokyo Ramen(502 Forest Hill Rd., Fredericton)
• Dec.8, Between 7:40 AM and 8:40 AM -Kingswood Lodge- Gym(1700 Kingswood Way, Hanwell)
• Dec. 8, Between 7 PM and 8 PM -Appleby's Taekwando(880 Hanwell Rd., Fredericton)
• Dec.8, Between 12 PM and 4 PM -Jeremy's Barber Shop(199 Main St., Plaster Rock)
• Dec.7, Between 6:30 AM and 7:40 AM -Kingswood Lodge - Gym(1700 Kingswood Way, Hanwell)
• Dec. 6, Between 7:15 PM and 8:15 PM -York Arena(891 Barker St., Fredericton)
• Dec. 5, Between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM -Lady Beaverbrook Rink(411 University Ave., Fredericton)

Edmundston region, Zone 4

• December 14, Between 10 AM and 7 PM -Burger King(100 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
• December 13, Between 10 AM and 4 PM -Burger King(100 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
• December 13, Between 4 PM and 10 PM -Greco(77 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
• December 12, Between 5 PM and 8 PM -Pizza Shack(525 Carrier Rd., Edmundston)
• December 10, Between 10 AM and 5 PM -Acanthus Gallery(136 Church St., Grand Falls)
• December 9, Between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM -Edmundston Regional Hospital - outpatient waiting room(275 Hbert Blvd., Edmundston)

Miramichia region, Zone 7

• Dec.13, Between 5 PM and 7:30 PM -Pleasant Street After Hours Clinic(250 Pleasant St., Miramichi)
• Dec.14, Between 9 AM and 5 PM -Go To Insure: Stevens, Wilson & Lockerbie(505 King George Highway, Miramichi)
• Dec.15, Between 9 AM and 12 PM -Go To Insure: Stevens, Wilson & Lockerbie(505 King George Highway, Miramichi)

For the full list of new and previous public exposure notices, visit theprovincial government's website.

People who have not been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure and who have symptoms should get a COVID lab test. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811 and must isolate while waiting for their test result.

People who are not fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms are now being instructed to pick up an At-Home COVID-19 Rapid Point of Care Test (Rapid POCT) screening kit. They do not need to isolate if they have not been directed by Public Health to do so.

All positive point-of-care test results must be confirmed with a laboratory polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test.

It can take up to 14 days to test positive after being exposed to COVID-19, so even if results come back negative, people should continue to self-monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if any develop.

They should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters during that 14-day period.

For people who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID lab test if symptoms develop.

They do not need to isolate while they wait for their test results.

If they do not have symptoms, they can pick up a rapid test kit and do not need to isolate.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take 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.