UPDATED: Circuit Breaker To End In Zone 2, Much Of Zone 1

New Brunswick Public Health reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

After 44 more recoveries, active cases now stand at 548.

There are 102 active cases in the Saint John area, and 218 in the Moncton region.

11 new cases are being reported in the Moncton region, 21 in the Saint John health zone, 17 in the Fredericton health zone, one in the Edmundston region, four in the Campbellton area, one in the Bathurst health zone, and 14 in the Miramichi region.

17 people are in hospital due to the virus, 11 require an intensive care unit.

86.2 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 93 per cent have one dose of a vaccine.

Circuit Breakers 

Beginning Friday at 6 p.m., the circuit breaker in the Saint John region (Zone 2) will end.

It will also end for most the Moncton health zone (Zone 1), except for the municipalities of Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe.

“This zone has been under circuit breaker restrictions since Oct. 8 and (public health) should be seeing lower cases with these measures in place, but unfortunately we are not,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard in a release.

“More than half our cases are due to household transmission, which should not be happening. Despite these restrictions, the number of cases remains high, particularity in the Greater Moncton area,” added Shephard.

At the same time, most of the Miramichi region (Zone 7) will go into a 14-day circuit breaker, except for Black River Bridge and communities to the east; Murray Settlement and areas south; and New Jersey and areas north.

COVID-19 Booster Doses

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said New Brunswick residents 65 and older are now eligible for a booster shot as long as six months have passed since their second dose.

As well, fully vaccinated people who have received one or two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are permitted to book an appointment to receive an mRNA booster dose if 28 days have passed since their second dose.

Booster shots will also be available for people who travel outside of North America for essential work, education or health care.