Public Health reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday along with the third death in the past week.
Fifteen of the cases were in the Edmundston region (Zone 4), two were in the Fredericton region (Zone 3), and there was one each in the Moncton (Zone 1) and Saint John (Zone 2) health regions.
Officials also announced the province’s 33rd COVID-related death involving a person in their 70s in the Edmundston region.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, said Public Health is assuming all new cases of COVID-19 are the new “highly infectious” variants going forward.
Russell said these variants are in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia and are straining Public Health resources, particularly in New Brunswick’s Zone 4.
Part Of Zone 4 In Lockdown
The Edmundston and Upper Madawaska areas of Zone 4 are moving back to full lockdown as of midnight Saturday night. The rest of Zone 4 is staying where they are whether that is yellow or red.
All non-essential businesses will be forced to close, and the stores that can remain open are only to sell essential goods. Evictions will not be permitted while the lockdown remains in effect.
There are 16 cases of community transmission in the Edmundston region, where Public Health can’t trace the origin to a confirmed case.
Russell said if you live in a locked-down area, stay home as much as possible and only leave to procure essential goods. Close contacts of a case are requested to isolate as soon as they are informed to avoid transmission.
Shephard said all formal and non-formal gatherings are not permitted in lockdown. She said non-essential goods must be sold via online ordering and through curbside pickup.
She said this is a difficult period for all of us and she knows we are tired of this pandemic but our best hope is to limit the impacts as much as possible. Avoid gatherings and keep contacts low, even if vaccinated.
All formal and non-formal gatherings are not permitted in lockdown. She said non-essential goods must be sold via online ordering and through curbside pickup.
More vaccine doses will be funnelled to Zone 4 and Russell encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated.
Delay Of Full-Time Return To Class
Public Health announced on Saturday that the return to full-time lessons for high school students, which was scheduled for Monday, has been delayed. The decision will be revisited the week of April 26.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said the reason for the delay is because of how contagious the variants are and how quickly they spread.
So relieved that high schools across NB will not return to pre-COVID operations on Monday.
A decision on ending blended learning will be made the week of April 24.
My thanks as always to the teachers and all staff, and the students and their families, for their patience.
— Dominic Cardy (@DominicCardy) April 10, 2021
Russell said the variants currently identified in the province are the U.K. variant. The majority of the cases in Zone 4 are the variant first detected in the U.K. – the B.1.1.7 variant. She said there are presumptive results of other variants but, because the results must be confirmed, it will take several days before they know for sure.
She said there are some hospitalized New Brunswickers who have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. She said you can still become sick after getting your shot but severe symptoms are at a lower risk. One person was fully vaccinated with two does and the 14-to-21 days had passed, while two others had one dose but the 14 days had yet to pass.
Shephard said even those vaccinated must follow Public Health rules. Variants have added unexpected obstacles, she said, adding there’s a concern for the Saint John and Fredericton regions.
Potential Public Exposures
Public Health announced several potential public exposures to COVID-19 on Saturday in the Saint John and Moncton regions.
Potential exposures in the Saint John region (Zone 2) include:
- Service New Brunswick (15 King Square North, Saint John) – April 8 between 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m.
- McAllister Place (519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John) – April 8 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., April 9 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- GAP Factory East Point (15 Fashion Dr., Saint John) – April 9 between 2:10 p.m. and 2:40 p.m.
Potential exposures in the Moncton region (Zone 1) include:
- CF Champlain (477 Paul St., Dieppe) – April 1 between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., April 3 between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 6 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 8 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Kelseys Original Roadhouse (141 Trinity Dr., Moncton) – April 3 between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
- Moncton Wesleyan Church (945 St. George Blvd., Moncton) – April 4 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- YMCA Vaughan Harvey, (30 War Veterans Ave., Moncton) – April 6 between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- COSTCO Wholesale customer service (140 Granite Drive, Moncton) – April 8 between 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
In Atlantic Bubble news, Shephard said the situation is fluid. She said the premier is still in discussion with the other premiers and they are working towards the opening of the bubble again.
