N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 11 new cases, entire province back to yellow

New Brunswick Public Health reported11 new cases of COVID-19 onMonday more than half of them residents who are self-isolating outside New Brunswick, and the entire province is back at the yellow COVID alert level for the first time since mid-March.

The part of the Edmundston region, Zone 4, which has been at the more restrictive orange level, will move to yellow at midnight, said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell.

She thanked residents ofEdmundston and the Upper Madawaska region, Saint-Lonard, Grand Falls, Drummond, New Denmark and Four Falls for their co-operation in abiding by the Public Health measures.

"Your patience and perseverance have enabled us to slow the spread of the virus and bring this outbreak under control," Russell said during Monday'slive COVIDbriefing.

While the risk of further infection still exists, the number of active cases and hospitalizations has declined and there have been no new cases of community transmission, which is"very, very good news," she said.

For all but a two-week period in March, all or part of Zone 4 has been at the orange or red alert level since late December.

"I am so very, very proud of all the hard work that people are doing and have done."

The pandemic is still "far from over," said Russell, warning there will likely be further outbreaks in the months ahead.

She is particularly concerned about the situation in the Moncton region, Zone 1, she said. Public Health has traced twochains of transmission,but hasn't been able tofind the origin case.

"It means that there is a potential for community transmission," she said, noting one one of the highly contagious variants is involved andand there are public exposures associated withthe cases.

But with the progress the province is making with itsvaccine rollout, any outbreaksshould be smaller and "have fewer negative outcomes," Russellsaid, based on the experience in the United Kingdom and Israel.

We will still continue to see transmission of COVID-19 even after everybody has two doses. But hopefully the outcomes will be not severe in terms of not requiring hospitalization, not requiring ICU admission and not passing away.- Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health

Most eligible New Brunswickersshould be fully vaccinated with two doses by September. Until then, people must remain vigilant about physical distancing, wearing a mask, handwashing and other measures, she said.

"Getting your first dose of the vaccine does not enable you to throw aside your mask and go out and party with your friends."

The vaccinetakes at least two or three weeks to "really kick in," and the "maximum benefit" is reached only two to three weeks after receiving the second dose, Russell stressed.

"We will still continue to see transmission of COVID-19 even after everybody has two doses. But hopefully the outcomes will be not severe in terms of not requiring hospitalization, not requiring ICU admission and not passing away."

Of the 11 new cases announced, Russell said only five are in the province.

New Brunswickers who have contracted the coronavirus elsewhere in Canada and who are in self-isolation or hospitalized outside of the province are counted among New Brunswick's case numbers.

Russell acknowledged this may be confusing.

"We have changed our reporting because these out-of-province cases now make up a larger share of our total case count than they have done in the past, and these cases have also impacted areas that have otherwise had very few recent cases," she said.

Just in the past two weeks,33 New Brunswickers have contracted COVID-19 outside the province.

Twenty-seven per centof the 155 new COVID-19 infectionsreported during that two-week period involved workers who travel regularly outside New Brunswick.

Public Health has also connected a recent caseto the outbreak in Nova Scotia.

The province is looking intohow it can "better reflect the real picture in New Brunswick" on its COVIDdashboard, Russell said.

The breakdown of new cases is as follows:

Moncton region, Zone 1,three cases:

• A person 19 orunder.
• A person 20-29.
• A person 40-49.

Two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one is an out-of-province travel case.

Saint John region, Zone 2,one case:

• A person 19 or under.

This case is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Fredericton region, Zone 3,one case:

• A person50-59.

This is an out-of-province travel case.

Edmundston region, Zone 4,one case:

• A person19 or under.

This case is under investigation.

Campbellton region, Zone 5,one case:

• A person20-29.

This case is travel-related.

Bathurst region, Zone 6,three cases:

• A person 50-59.
• Two people 60-69.

All three cases are out-of-province travel cases.

Miramichi region, Zone 7,one case:

• A person 30-39.

This is an out-of-province travel case.

Seven peopleare hospitalized in New Brunswick, including two in an intensive care unit. Four peopleare hospitalized out of province.

There are now 149 active cases of the respiratory disease.

New Brunswick has had 2,013 confirmed cases of COVID since the pandemic started. There have been 1,822 recoveries so far and 41 COVID-related deaths.

A total of305,433 COVID tests have been conducted, including946on Sunday.

Vaccines now available for people 40+

New Brunswickersages40 to 49 are now eligibleto receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, announced Monday afternoon.

The expanded eligibility comesjust six days after the province addedpeople 50 and older andanyone16 or older with at leasttwo chronic conditions.

Asked whether those groups have already been vaccinated,Department of Health spokespersonBruce Macfarlanesaid: "What I can tell you is we're receiving vaccines over the comingdays and weeks, lots of vaccines,and we are getting needles in arms as fast as we can and we think we can do it, and that's why we're opening up the availabilitytoday."

The province is scheduled to receive about 40,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and21,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine around May 17, said Russell.

People born in 1981 or beforemay now schedulean appointment onlinethrough theHorizon orVitalithealth networks or by contacting aparticipating pharmacy.

If an eligible individual, or a caregiver or family member acting on their behalf, is unable to book an appointment online, they can call 1-833-437-1424.

Walk-in appointments are not available. Anyone who cannot attend an appointment because they've been directed to self-isolate is asked to reschedule.

As of Monday,278,811 New Brunswickers have received at least one dose of a vaccine, said Education Minister Dominic Cardy.

That's40.2 per cent of the eligible population, according to theCOVID-19 dashboard.

Follow Public Health guidance even after getting vaccinated, says Dr. Russell

3 years ago

Duration 1:15

Dr. Jennifer Russell says people who haven't been vaccinated as well as those who have must remain vigilant and wear masks.

Although that's lower than last week and may seem as though there's been a reduction in New Brunswick's vaccination rate, it's because the province previously only included people aged 16 and over, said Russell.

Children aged 12 to 15 who have acomplex medical conditionortwo or more chronic conditionsbecame eligible last week, following Health Canada'sapproval of the Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine for children 12 and older, she said.

All 12 to 15-year-olds are expected tobecome eligible for vaccination later this spring, at the same time as all those under the age of 19.

So the number of eligible New Brunswickers has grown by about30,000 to more than 693,000, said Russell. The dashboard has been updated to reflect that.

For the vaccination of children under 16, aparent or guardian must schedule an appointment and provide consent.

Vaccine appointments availabletoday

The Horizon Health Network has vaccine appointments available today in Saint John and Fredericton for those who are eligible to receive one.

Vaccinations are by appointment only and can be booked online.

There is "major availability" at the Saint John clinic at Exhibition Park, said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

"We encourage anybody [who's eligible] to go online and sign up and register for a vaccine," he said.

Visit Horizon's websiteto learn more about its vaccination clinics.

Province won't say if 5 COVIDvictims were vaccinated

The province's chief medical officer of health won't say whether the five residents who died in the past week in a COVID-19 outbreak at a special care home in Grand Falls, in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, were vaccinated.

"We're trying to be respectful of confidentiality, that is when we try to not overshare," Dr. Jennifer Russell told reporters on Monday.

Pavillon Beau-Lieu recorded its fifth COVID-related death on Saturday, a person in their 90s.The outbreak involves the variant first reported in South Africa.

A total of 38 residents and 15 staff at the 60-bed facility have now tested positive,Russell said.

"My understanding is [residents] received their first dose in February and they received their second dose in April," she said.

"As you know, there are different types of people in terms of age, comorbidities. And also we have to understand that all long-term care facilities and nursing homes have advanced care directives for all of their patients. So some patients do not wish to be resuscitated, some patients are palliative, et cetera."

"These are some of the factors that can play into how outbreaks are going to go."

Last month, Russell revealed that three hospitalized COVID patients had each received at least one dose of vaccine and the timing of their shots in relation to the onset of symptoms.

Asked why she won't divulge the same type of detailsabout the five special care home residents who died, she replied: "We're trying to make sure that the public has information to protect themselves. That is the the barometer of what we use in terms of sharing information."

Positive cases at Hampton school, daycare

Roughly 230 students andstaff at a kindergarten to Grade 2 school in Hampton have been asked to self-isolate with their families because of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

In a letter to parents Sunday, Public Health said aninvestigation is going on at Dr. A. T. Leatherbarrow Primary School. Families have been asked to self-isolate until midnight while contact tracing is conducted.

"All students and staff and everyone who lives under the same household are required to self-isolate. This means that your child is not able to attend daycare and you are not able to attend work. You are also not to receive any visitors at your home."

Public Health said it will contact anyone who is at risk with further information.

A positive case of COVID-19 was also confirmed Sunday atGo-Go After SchoolatHampton Elementary.

Children, staff and their families have been told by Public Health to self-isolate until 11:59 p.m. Mondaywhile contact tracing is carried out. The daycareis closed.

Those identified as a close contact will be contacted directly by Public Health.

Update on case at Kennebecasis Valley High School

"Most"Kennebecasis Valley High School students will return to the Quispamsis school on Tuesday, after a positive case was confirmed on Saturday, said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

"Any students that were contacted directly by Public Health will learn from home until otherwise advised," he said in an emailed statement.

He did not say how many students, staff and family members have been ordered to continue to self-isolate.

The school has more than 1,000 students in grades 9-12, according to its website.

No school was plannedMonday.

Graduation ceremony guidelines

The Department of Education released guidelines Mondayfor high school graduation ceremonies.

The type of ceremony that can be held will depend on which COVID alert level the zone is in at that time, said Education Minister Dominic Cardy.

Any schoolin a red or lockdown zone during graduation must hold the ceremony virtually.

No school-organized proms will be permitted.

"While school-organized proms will not be possible this year, I am confident that schools and school districts will be creative in their planning, just as we saw so many rise to the occasion last year," said Cardy.

He urged families planning their own celebrations to ensure theymeet the standards set out in the mandatory order.

"We talk about safe grad ceremonies around having alcohol- and drug-free grad ceremonies. Let's try and make sure we have COVID-free grad ceremonies this year."

Parents and guardians should encourage studentsto be safe by following physical distancing guidelines and wearing a mask,when required, he said.

New exposure notifications

Public Health has identified a potential public exposure to the coronavirus at the following locations and dates in the Moncton region, Zone 1:

• 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.

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 isoffering COVID-19 testing to anyone who hasbeen in a public exposure area, even it they're not experiencing any symptoms. Residents mayrequest a test onlineor call Tele-Care 811 to book an appointment.

Previous exposure notifications

Monctonregion:

• Greco Pizza, 120 Killam Dr., Moncton, onMay 5, between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m.,May 3,between 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., andMay 2,between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m.
• Greco Pizza, 311 Acadie Blvd., Dieppe, onMay 4, between 4 p.m. and11p.m.
• Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre emergency department, 330 Universit Ave., 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.

Fredericton region:

• Lunar Rogue, 625 King St., Fredericton, onApril 28,between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
• Fix Auto, 156 Greenview Dr., 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.

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:

• 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.

• Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions.