FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health is reporting a three-day total of 29 recoveries and 122 new cases of COVID-19 since Sept. 10.

The new cases include 51 on Sept. 11, 39 on Sept. 12 and 32 today; 86 per cent of these cases are not fully vaccinated. There are 11 people hospitalized due to the virus, with nine in an intensive care unit. The number of active cases is 229.

“This fourth wave of COVID-19 infections is different from what we have seen before,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “We are experiencing an epidemic among the unvaccinated – those who have chosen to remain unvaccinated as well as those who are not yet eligible. And, in many cases, adults who are not fully vaccinated are passing the virus onto young children who are not yet able to get the vaccine.”

The 36 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;
• nine people 20-29;
• five people 30-39;
• three people 40-49;
• 10 people 50-59;
• three people 60-69; and
• two people 70-79.

Twenty-six cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and 10 cases are under investigation.

The one new case in Zone 2 (Saint John region) is a person 30-39. This case is travel- related.

The 23 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• 12 people 19 and under;
• four people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• two people 40-49;
• a person 50-59; and
• two people 60-69.

Fifteen cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and eight cases are under investigation.

The 11 new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• two people 30-39;
• two people 40-49;
• two people 60-69;
• a person 70-79; and
• a person 90 and over.

Eight cases are under investigation and three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The 48 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:

• 28 people 19 and under;
• six people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• six people 40-49;
• two people 50-59;
• a person 60-69; and
• two people 70-79.

Twenty-seven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and 21 cases are under investigation.

The one new case in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) is an individual 20-29. The case is under investigation.

The two new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

• a person 20-29; and
• a person 30-39.

Both are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 76.9 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 85.6 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

“Having as many New Brunswickers vaccinated as possible is key to getting our province through this current rise in cases and moving beyond the pandemic,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “While our health-care system is able to handle the current level of hospitalizations, we do not want to wait until we reach a critical state to introduce changes. Cabinet will be meeting later today and will work with Public Health to determine whether new guidelines are required.”

If you have not yet had your first or second dose, you are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.

All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose.

Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.

A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.

Additional measures for schools

Effective Tuesday, students of all ages must wear a mask in school and while on school buses. Masks may be removed when students are eating, drinking or engaged in sports or physical education classes. These measures will be in place for the next two weeks and reassessed by the week of Sept. 27.

In response to a significant increase in confirmed cases in the Campbellton and Dalhousie communities, including cases in several schools, additional health and safety measures will be implemented in these regions until at least Friday, Sept. 24. Schools will reduce the amount of contact between groups of students in different classrooms to the greatest extent possible; and schools will not begin any new interscholastic, extracurricular or intramural activities. Teachers who are fully vaccinated will be able to remove their masks in the classroom for instructional purposes. These measures will be implemented at:

• Polyvalente Roland-Pépin
• L.E. Reinsborough School
• Le Galion des Appalaches
• Lord Beaverbrook Elementary School
• La Mosaïque du Nord
• Campbellton Middle School
• École communautaire Académie Notre-Dame
• Dalhousie Regional High School
• École aux Quatre Vents
• Sugarloaf Senior High School

In child-care facilities, school-aged children will wear masks at all times and these facilities will reduce contact between groups of children to the greatest extent possible. Staff who are fully vaccinated will continue to wear masks in common areas and may remove their masks within their own group of children, however unvaccinated staff must wear masks at all times.

“I know that families are feeling anxious right now, especially those with children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy. “But we continue to work with Public Health to adapt our guidelines based on new information and will continue to do so throughout the coming year as needed. That is why we are adding layers of protection to schools and child-care facilities in impacted regions, and the situation will be closely monitored in the coming weeks. We also urge anyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated and help keep our kids healthy and safe.”  

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Positive cases have been confirmed in schools in zones 1 (Moncton region), 3 (Fredericton region) and 5 (Campbellton region).

Regarding all cases identified at schools, if you or a family member have been in close contact with a case, you will be notified by Public Health for contact tracing. If you do not hear directly from Public Health, you have not been identified as a close contact.

The respective school communities of those with confirmed cases have all been notified. As per New Brunswick’s Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses. Districts have reached out to families directly with specific information regarding any impacts on learning, including information on home learning, if required.

Zone 1 (Moncton region) – A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at each of the following schools: Riverview High School, West Riverview Elementary and Moncton High School.

Zone 3 (Fredericton region) – A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at École Sainte-Anne in Fredericton and two positive cases have been confirmed at Donald Fraser Memorial in Plaster Rock.

Zone 5 (Campbellton region) – A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at each of the following schools: Dalhousie Regional High School, Galion des Appalaches in Campbellton and Polyvalente Roland-Pépin in Campbellton. Two positive cases have been confirmed at each of the following schools: Lord Beaverbrook School in Campbellton, Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton, and Campbellton Middle School. Positive cases have also been confirmed at Wee Care Day Care, Wee Care 2 Early Learning Centre and Youth In Action Day Care, all of which are located in Campbellton.

Update on outbreak at Harvest House in Zone 1 (Moncton region)

Public Health declared an outbreak last week at Harvest House, a shelter and community centre in Moncton. Members of the Provincial Rapid Outbreak Management Team were deployed and residents and staff were tested. There are now 24 confirmed cases at the facility and a second round of testing will take place today.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.