Public Health reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Friday.
There are 11 cases in the Edmundston region (Zone 4), all contacts of previously confirmed cases. Nine of these are connected to the outbreak at Pavillon Beau-Lieu, a special care home in Grand Falls.
There are three new cases in the Saint John region (Zone 2) and all are travel-related.
There are two new cases in the Fredericton region (Zone 3) one of which is travel-related and the other is under investigation.
The two new cases in Moncton region (Zone 1) are travel-related, one of which is a temporary foreign worker.
There is one case in the Bathurst region (Zone 6) that is travel-related.
There are 146 active cases in the province. Fifteen people are hospitalized and five are in the intensive care unit.
About 750 people are self-isolating but Public Health remains concerned about outbreaks in communal living locations.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said the Edmundston region of Zone 4 has now been in lockdown for 12 days and improvement in the outbreak has been slow.
She said she’s hopeful the lockdown can be lifted soon if positive trends continue but she would like to see three or fewer cases a day on average.
Public Health has recommended a reassessment on April 26 of the Edmundston area as well as the Grand Falls-Drummond area, which is currently in the orange level.
Russell is reminding municipal election candidates to follow Public Health guidelines, including not entering homes, masking up and staying six feet away.
She said we’re maybe 10 weeks away from having everyone in the province vaccinated with their first dose.
Premier Blaine Higgs expressed disappointment in those who are not following Public Heath guidelines and the emergency order.
He said tickets were given out at a gathering in Zone 4. There have been 76 checks in the zone to ensure self-isolation and officials have only found two cases that were not following the self-isolation order.
Peace officers will continue to check in on those who are self-isolating and there will also be random checks in Zone 4 to ensure rules are being followed.
Higgs said nearly 30 per cent of those 16 or older have received their first dose of vaccine and 90 per cent of those were administered at a pharmacy.
Higgs said truck drivers and care workers are a priority for the province, noting there are 3,200 truck drivers who regularly cross borders as part of their essential service.
He said 92 per cent of long-term care residents have received their first dose but only 59 per cent of long-term care workers have chosen to be vaccinated.
Higgs said it’s a concern that these workers haven’t gotten vaccinated but it is a good thing the residents are protected. He said they are at risk of getting sick and infecting others, which Public Health is keeping an eye on this.
Russell said 25 per cent of residents in care homes and 12 per cent of workers have received a second dose.
She said vaccines will continue to be offered to people in the age cohorts for now with a priority on Zone 4 vaccinations.
Higgs said he reached out to the Governor of Maine’s office for more vaccines since they share borders and was told they would like to “entertain the discussion” but that would have to happen later.
He said the federal government should close international borders with India, not letting in flights.
Higgs also noted more than 20 people answered the call of help and will be going to Ontario to help with their third wave.
He said the increase in cases in Nova Scotia does postpone the Atlantic bubble and this is concerning but the hope is the bubble is in place later in May, depending on vaccine rollout.
“Thak you for doing the right thing even when it is difficult to do so,” he said.
