(Photo: GNB YouTube)
“We are grieving today.”
Those words from Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, as she announced the first COVID-19 death in the province during a media briefing.
Dr. Russell says the case was an individual in his 80’s, who was a resident of Manoir de la Vallee in Atholville, before being hospitalized.
She says the death is connected to the ongoing outbreak in Zone 5, the Campbellton region.
Through a family member on social media, the individual was identified as 84-year-old Daniel Ouellette.
Dr. Russell says Zone 5 will remain in the Orange Phase of recovery until the current outbreak is over while the rest of the province remains in the Yellow Phase.
“I think there’s an apprehension that this could happen elsewhere and it is true, it could happen elsewhere. For that very reason, we need to wrap our arms around that community and support them as we would want to be supported if and when a COVID-19 outbreak happens in our community,” she says.
Today, one new case of COVID-19 is being reported.
Dr. Russell says the individual is in their 20’s and works at the Manoir de la Vallee.
The number of active cases is 15, which are all in Zone 5, with four patients in hospital and one in an intensive care unit.
Dr. Russell adds it is best to avoid unnecessary travel to the Campbellton region right now.
As of today, 32,299 COVID-19 tests have been conducted.
