New Brunswick Public Health reported 67 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and two virus-related deaths.
A person in their 80s from the Moncton region and a person in their 70s in the Campbellton region have died.
Of the new cases, 34 are in the Moncton region, 11 are in the Saint John zone, and seven are in the Fredericton area.
Elsewhere in the province, there are 11 new cases in the Edmundston region, one case in the Campbellton area, two in the Bathurst region, and one case in the Miramichi area.
After 63 recoveries, the active caseload now stands at 763.
There are 55 people in hospital due to the virus, with 16 needing an intensive care unit.
83.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 91.9 per cent have received their first dose.
Current Circuit Breaker Measures
The province also announced on Thursday that the circuit breaker that has been in effect in certain areas of New Brunswick since Oct. 8 will be extended for at least seven more days.
These areas are Zone 1 (Moncton region) as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent and Havelock in Zone 2; the northern portion of Zone 3 from and including Deerville and Florenceville-Bristol, but excluding Hayesville and Parker Ridge; and all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
“We have seen encouraging data since the circuit breaker measures went into effect, but it is still too early to know if cases in the affected areas will continue to steadily decline in the days ahead,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health in a statement.
“If we were to remove these measures now, without knowing for certain that we are experiencing a sustained downward trend in cases and hospitalizations, we could prolong the situation even further,” added Russell.
The measures will be lifted when Public Health can confirm a trend of decreasing numbers of cases and a decline in the seven-day average of new hospital admissions.
14-day Circuit Breaker in Zone 5 Beginning Oct. 22
Beginning Friday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., the Campbellton region will enter a 14-day circuit breaker.
The decision was made to address the high number of COVID-19 transmissions in the region.
“I know this news is difficult for those living in Zone 5 and for those in the current circuit breaker areas, as you have worked hard,” said Premier Blaine Higgs in a release.
“The numbers are slowly getting better, but the Delta variant is different from anything we have experienced before, and we need to treat it differently,” Higgs added.
For more information, including a detailed list and map, CLICK HERE.
Rapid-tests
New Brunswick also announced on Thursday new rules for positive rapid-test results.
The mandatory order has been updated and mentions that anyone who receives a positive result from a rapid-test kit taken at home must immediately schedule an appointment for a lab-based PCR test at a Public Health assessment centre.
An appointment can be booked online, or by calling 811. Anyone who fails to do so will be subject to fines.
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