N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 34 new cases 30 of them in people not fully vaccinated

New Brunswick Public Health reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 across five zones onFriday, the majority of those cases in people who are not fully vaccinated.

Of Friday's new cases, 88 per cent or 30 of 34 cases are not fully vaccinated, the department said in a news release.

"As we expected, COVID-19 is not going away; there are now active cases reported in all health zones, mostly among those who are not fully vaccinated," Dr. Cristin Muecke, deputy chief medical officer, said in the release.

"Getting vaccinated is the surest and most effective way to protect yourselves, your family, those who cannot be vaccinated, and your community from the COVID-19 virus."

The new cases of COVID-19 in the Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Edmundston and Miramichi regions break down in this way:

Moncton region, Zone 1, 11 cases:

• Three people 19 and under
• Five people 20 to 29
• A person 30 to 39
• A person 40 to 49
• A person 50 to 59

Seven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and four are under investigation.

Saint John region, Zone 2, nine cases:

• Four people 19 and under
• Two people 20 to 29
• Two people 30 to 39
• A person 40 to 49

Seven cases are contacts ofpreviously confirmed cases, one is travel-related and the other is under investigation.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, 11 cases:

• Five people 19 and under
• Two people 20 to 29
• A person 30 to 39
• Two people 50 to 59
• A person 60 to 69

Six cases are travel-related, four are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one is under investigation.

Edmundston region, Zone 4, one case:

• A person 20 to 29

The case is under investigation.

Miramichiregion, Zone 7, two cases:

• A person 19 and under
• A person 80 to 89

Both cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

There are now 152 active cases in the province with one person in the hospital.

The province has reported a total of 2,614 cases, 2,415 recoveries and 46 deaths as a result of COVID-19.

Two cases have been removed from the list because they were confirmed as false positives.

"In rare situations, such as these two, the laboratory got a negative result when sequencing the specimen so the samples were retested," Public Health said in a new release.

Vaccination rates budgedslightly Friday, with72.3 per cent of the eligible population now fully vaccinated,compared to 72per cent Thursday.

A total of 83.8per cent of New Brunswickers over the age of 12 have had at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 83.7per cent from the day prior.

A mobile vaccination clinic will be open Saturday at the Fredericton Public Library from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Additional clinics will be open in St. Stephen and Saint-Quentin.

• Fredericton, Brookside Mall, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
• St. Stephen, Garcelon Civic Centre, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine
• Saint-Quentin, Auberge vasion des Rves, 9 a.m. to noon, Moderna vaccine, only for those 18 and older

A series of community clinics are hosting walk-ins without appointments on Monday, Aug. 23, as follows:

• Fredericton, Brookside Mall, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Moderna vaccine, only for those 18 and older
• Moncton, Moncton Coliseum, 9 a.m. to noon, Moderna vaccine, only for those 18 and older
• Moncton, Moncton Coliseum, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer-BioNTecvaccine
• Sussex, Sussex Legion, 11 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
• Pennfield, Pennfield Lions Club, noon to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

4 universities now require full vaccination frequent testing

The University of New Brunswick has made vaccines mandatory for students, staff and faculty this fall.

The university, which has campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, made the announcement in an email on Friday,noting that anyone not fully vaccinated during the school year will be subject to regular testing.

"In the meantime, we strongly encourage all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated as soon as possible and to maintain copies of their vaccination status," the university said in the email.

It said more details of the policy will be announced next week, including a timeframe for afirst and second dose of the vaccine andtesting requirements.

More mandates

Later in the day, the University of Moncton announced it was taking the same step for its staff and students. and would be announcing details soon. The university said vaccination clinics would be held on campus or nearby at the beginning of the school year.

The provincial government said Thursday it would make vaccines mandatory for all government employees.

Universities and businesses immediately began followingsuit.

St. Thomas University and Mount Allison University both announced Thursday that vaccinations will be mandatory for students, faculty and staff this fall.

This news comes one week after the universitiessaid theyencouraged, but would not require, students to be vaccinated.

New Brunswick Community College confirmed to CBC News last week it does not plan to make vaccines mandatory.

The New Brunswick Union urged the college on Friday to reconsider its decision.

"The recent announcement from the province regarding mandatory vaccinations and testing for unvaccinated employees includes our members in the community college systems," the union'spresident Susie Proulx-Daigle said in a news release.

"They are doing their part to ensure as safe a return as possible to the campuses this year. We feel students should be doing their part as well."

Possible vaccine eligibility for some 11-year-olds

The New Brunswick government is consideringfollowing Manitoba's lead by allowingthose turning 12 this year to get thePfizer-BioNTech shot.

That would mean New Brunswickerswho are 11 years old and born on or before Dec. 31, 2009, won't have to wait until they're 12 to get vaccinated.

"That's absolutely something we're looking to be able to move towards,"Education Minister Dominic Cardysaid at a news conference Friday."It's just a logistical consideration more than anything else.

"Certainly, policy wise, that' the direction we're intending to go."

Manitoba announced this week it will move forward with the new eligibility on Monday. Quebec is also considering the adjustment.

Newpossible exposures

Public Healthadded one new potentialCOVID-19 exposure warningFridayto the already lengthy list:

Miramichi region:

• Aug. 12 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Walmart(200 Douglastown Blvd., Miramichi)

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 flight:

• Aug. 11 Air Canada Flight 8773 from Montreal to Saint John, which departed at 9:14 a.m.
• Aug.7Air Canada Flight8904 from Montreal to Moncton,departed at 8:03 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. 15 between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Jean's Restaurant(1999 Mountain Rd., Moncton)
• Aug.14 between 2and 3 p.m. Champlain Mall Food Court(477 Paul St., Dieppe)
• Aug.11 Groupe- SupportEmotionnel,96NorwoodAve., Suite 300A,Moncton
• Aug. 14 between 2 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre emergency room, 330 Universit Ave., Moncton
• Aug.9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Action Car and Truck Accessories,200 Horsman Rd.,Moncton
• Aug.9, 10, and 13 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Deware's Service Centre,402 Elmwood Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Oulton College, 55 Lutz St.
• Aug. 12 between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Rd.
• Aug. 12 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. H&M, 477 Paul St., Dieppe
• Aug. 12 between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Our Place,97 Cameron St., Moncton
• Aug.9, 10, 11, and 12 between 6:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. Hillsborough Irving,2799 Main St.,Hillsborough
• Aug. 11 between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre diagnostic imaging waiting room, 330 University Ave.
• Aug.11 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. New Life Pentecostal Church,65 Dawson Rd., Weldon
• Aug.11 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Costco,140 Granite Dr.,Moncton
• Aug. 9, 10, and 11 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Corn Crib,337 Mountain Dr., Moncton
• Aug.11 between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. Ioob Lounge Ltd.,127 Robinson St., Moncton
• Aug. 10 between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Chris Rock Tavern, 48 Albert St.
• Aug.8 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. -Apostolic Lighthouse Church,332 Bayley Rd., Riverview
• Aug. 7 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Navigators Pub, 190 Robinson CourtAug. 7 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.,
• Aug. 8 between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. Wise Guys Pub, 176 Robinson St.
• Aug. 7 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Old Triangle Irish Alehouse,751 Main St., Moncton
• Aug.5 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Costco,140 Granite Dr.,Moncton
• Aug.1 between 1 p.m and 3 p.m. -Montana's,225 Mapleton Rd., Moncton
• Aug.1 between 6:30 p.m.and 8:30 p.m. -Apostolic Lighthouse Church,332 Bayley Rd., Riverview

The province also shared possible sites of COVID-19 exposure in the Saint John, Fredericton, and Miramichi regions

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Aug.15 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.Costco Wholesale Saint John(300 Retail Dr., Saint John)
• Aug. 9Three Bears Campground,12049 Rte. 114, Penobsquis
• Aug. 4 and 5 Three Bears Campground,12049 Rte. 114, Penobsquis
• Aug. 4 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Atlantic Superstore, 44 Lower Cove Rd., Sussex
• Aug. 2 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. JJ's Restaurant,40941 Rte. 1, Sussex

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Aug. 11 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. McDonald's in Walmart,1381 Regent St., Fredericton
• Aug.12 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sobeys,1180 Prospect St., Fredericton
• Aug.12 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Costco Gas Bar and Costco Store,25 Wayne Squibb Blvd., Fredericton
• Aug.11 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Aug.12 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.Atlantic Superstore, 350 Connell St., Woodstock
• Aug.10 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Coast Tire,283 Connell St., Woodstock
• Aug.9 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.,Tim Horton's,667 Main St., Woodstock
• Aug.8 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. -Grafton Baptist Church,48 Saunders St., Grafton
• Aug. 6 between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sobeys, 370 Connell Rd, Woodstock
• Aug. 7 between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Dolan's Pub, 349 King St.

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• Aug. 6 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ultramar Truck Stop, 11365 Rte 11, Napan

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.