Dr. Jennifer Russell encourages testing this summer for COVID-19, keeping our bubbles small and staying vigilant. (GNB YouTube)
The chief medical health officer wants New Brunswickers showing even just one symptom of COVID-19 to get tested.
Dr. Jennifer Russell said staying vigilant will keep New Brunswick in the “yellow” level of recovery longer.
When it comes to wearing a mask, Russell said they are for the protection of others, not yourself.
“When you are wearing a mask, you are doing that for your fellow citizens and obviously, protecting vulnerable populations. People who either live in those settings or work in those settings,” Russell said.
Russell believes a lot of people are “pandemic-fatigued” and just want this to go away, but it’s not going to any time soon.
She said it’s important for people showing even just one symptom to get tested, noting you cannot tell the difference between COVID-19 and other viruses, such as the common cold.
“Take the time to get tested. It doesn’t take a long time, it’s pretty easy peasy. We really want those numbers of tests to stay up for the summer. Have a low threshold to get tested,” Russell said.
Russell suggests hosting large gatherings outside so people can stay apart, adding “we don’t have to hug everybody”.
She said keeping the number of close contacts low is what will keep the case numbers down.
“In an outbreak setting, we don’t want to see ‘super-spreader’ events. Those kinds of things will set us back,” Russell said.
Russell encouraged spending time with a small number of people in terms of shared spaces and how close you get to people.
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