N.B. Reports 109 New COVID-19 Cases, 63 Hospitalizations

During a COVID-19 update, New Brunswick health officials reported 109 new cases of COVID-19.

32 of the new cases are in fully vaccinated people, also known as breakthrough cases, and Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said COVID-19 vaccines are effective but are not perfect.

“While you’re less likely to be infected when you’re fully vaccinated it can still happen, the evidence to date shows they’re very good at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death among those infected with the COVID-19 virus.”

There are 63 people in hospital due to the virus, 48 are not fully vaccinated, while there are 27 in an intensive care unit, 22 of which are unvaccinated.

“Since August 1st, our rate of ICU admissions for unvaccinated patients is 33.4 cases for every 100,000 unvaccinated New Brunswickers, now if we contrast that with the rate for fully vaccinated it is just 1.8 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated residents,” said Dr. Russell.

There are still 128,000 eligible New Brunswickers with only one dose of vaccine, and 69,000 who have not yet been vaccinated at all.

“So, I am concerned about those numbers, I’m concerned about those people as individuals, and I’m concerned for their families,” added Dr. Russell.

More than 81 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated against the virus, and 90 per cent has at least one dose.

Temporary restrictions during Thanksgiving weekend

Over Thanksgiving weekend, New Brunswick law enforcement kept busy due to the temporary restrictions put in place.

From Friday, Oct. 8 to Monday, Oct. 11 peace officers and inspectors responded to 28 calls to service and conducted more than 600 inspections of mostly non-essential businesses and private dwellings.

“10 self-isolation orders were issued to people who arrived at the New Brunswick border without proof of vaccination, and one compliance order was issued in Moncton,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard who also mentioned nearly everyone complied with the rules.

Peace officers and inspectors also made visits to places of worship. 63 places of worship were inspected, and 62 of those complied.

The non-compliance was at His Tabernacle Family Church on Rockland Road in Saint John, and the investigation is, “ongoing, and matters are before the courts,” added Minister Shephard.

Health facilities move to red level 

Starting Oct. 13, all Horizon Health Network and Vitalité facilities will go into red level.

This will last for a minimum of two weeks at all Horizon facilities with some non-urgent/elective procedures getting postponed, and patients being asked to seek alternatives to the ER.

Meantime, all non-essential services will be reduced or temporarily suspended, and affected patients will be contacted.

Minister Shephard added similar changes will now take effect on ambulance services.

“Ambulance New Brunswick is moving to the red level of alert to help maintain essential services and to ensure services are deployed as needed.”

Rapid tests

Beginning Oct. 12, unvaccinated students identified as close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case will get a five to 15 day supply of rapid tests.

Those students can return to school once they isolate for at least 24 hours, test negative twice, and have no symptoms.