Dr. Jennifer Russell during the April 23 news conference on COVID-19. (Photo: Youtube screengrab)
Public Health reported 16 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Friday, with most of them being travel-related.
There were eight new cases in the Bathurst region (Zone 6), four in the Moncton region (Zone 1), and two each in the Saint John (Zone 2) and Edmundston (Zone 4) regions.
There are now 148 active cases with 13 people in the hospital, including five in an intensive care unit.
New Brunswick’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said Public Health gets hospital reports daily and the situations are quite critical, with some people hanging on by a thread.
Russell said all travel is risky and should currently only be done for essential reasons, adding that travel for leisure is a risk no one should be taking.
She said the emergence of more contagious variants of the virus has created a troubling trend of new cases from travel.
“If you decide to take that risk, against Public Health guidance and advice, we need to be sure you are not putting the health of other New Brunswickers in jeopardy or our healthcare system,” she said.
New Self-Isolation Requirements
Meanwhile, Premier Blaine Higgs announced that cabinet and the all-party COVID-19 cabinet committee have approved new self-isolation requirements.
As of midnight Saturday night, non-essential travellers, people given approval to move to New Brunswick and business travellers must self-isolate in an isolation hotel for at least a week at their own expense.
“These hotels will be coordinated by the Canadian Red Cross which will also provide meals, attend to medical needs and provide 24/7 security. It is expected that the cost to each traveller will be about $200 each day,” said Higgs.
Leisure travellers must drive themselves or take a taxi to the hotel and will take a COVID-19 test on the fifth day. If they test negative, they can self-isolate at home as long as there are no other people in the household. They will also be required to take a second test on day 10 of their isolation.
All travellers entering the province, including truck drivers who regularly cross borders, must register their travel online.
Beginning Saturday night at midnight, rotational workers must self-isolate for 14 days, separate from others, when they return to New Brunswick. If they choose to isolate at home with other people, everyone in the household must also isolate for 14 days.
Truck drivers who regularly cross borders and all other regular cross-border commuters will have to follow modified self-isolation guidelines for 14 days upon their arrival. They must also stay at home at all times, except for medical needs or to pick up necessities, as long as they can do so while avoiding contact with others. Other members of their household won’t be required to self-isolate.
Beginning Sunday night at midnight, post-secondary students returning from COIVD-19 hot zones and anyone else helping them must stay in an isolation hotel, with the costs being covered by the provincial government.
“As with other groups, they will be tested on day five, with the option of finishing at home, starting day seven if the test is negative,” said Higgs.
Higgs said by reducing the movement of people, we can control the spread of the virus, which is more important now that we have variants that spread more.
He said the province will be in a better position by late May while not putting undue strain on the health care system.
Higgs also announced that the minimum fine for violating the mandatory order is increasing from $292.50 to $580.50.
Vaccinations For Homebound Individuals
Dr. Russell said Ambulance New Brunswick will begin providing vaccinations to homebound individuals 55 and older who are unable to leave their home to go to a pharmacy or vaccination clinic.
Existing clients of the Extra-Mural system will be assessed to determine if they qualify for this system.
Other clients may be referred for an at-home vaccination by their primary health provider beginning May 3.
Exposure Notifications
Exposure notifications were announced Friday for three Air Canada flights.
- Air Canada Flight 318 – from Calgary to Montreal, departed at 11:45 a.m. on April 20
- Air Canada Flight 8906 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 7:01 p.m. on April 20
- Air Canada Flight 8919 – from Toronto to Moncton, departed at 8:56 p.m. on April 15
