Public Health Reveals New Case, Announces Changes

Public Health in New Brunswick reported a new case of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The case is in the Fredericton zone and the person in their 40s is self-isolating.

New Brunswick now has seven active cases, including six in the Moncton region.

During a news conference, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health noted the first case of COVID-19 in the province was announced five months ago.

Dr. Jennifer Russell said public health recovery alert levels have been reviewed given increased knowledge about COVID-19 and the effectiveness of control measures in Canada and other countries.

Among the changes announced Tuesday are the makeup of family bubbles in the event the province or parts of it return to the “orange” or “red” alert level.

“We have also changed our bubbles that will now include formal and informal caregivers and members of the immediate family. Parents, children, siblings and grandparents. We do not believe we need to go back to a place where families are kept away from each other for long periods of time or where our most vulnerable lose access to their caregivers at times of great need,” Russell said.

Daycares will remain open under all alert levels as long as they follow Public Health guidelines, which Russell said will allow the economy to keep going.

As part of the “yellow” and “orange” levels, public spaces with seating can reduce physical distancing to one metre starting Aug. 17, as long as everyone is wearing a mask. Two-metre distancing will still be required if food or drinks are being consumed.

Revised measures under the “red” level would allow more businesses to remain open as long as they have appropriate public health measures in place.

Help NB stay in yellow! Revised Alert Phases have been released as New Brunswickers prepare for the fall. https://t.co/yglyvBPxcA pic.twitter.com/8d51jojniB

— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) August 11, 2020

Russell also announced a series of public health triggers which would determine whether a region or the entire province need to be moved to a different alert level.

The province’s top doctor said they are examining three keys areas to manage the virus, with one trigger being epidemiology.

“Through the dashboard in place on the GNB Coronavirus website, we will closely monitor case numbers. Our triggers in this area remain cases, community transmission or outbreaks in vulnerable settings including longterm care homes and hospitals,” Russell said.

The second trigger is the capacity of public health to test, trace and isolate cases, while the third is the health care system’s ability to cope with cases.