Dr. Jennifer Russell and Premier Blaine Higgs. Photo courtesy GNB.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said today that 56 percent of eligible New Brunswick residents are vaccinated. Premier Blaine Higgs said it is their goal to get to 60 percent by the end of the week.
This is a week after opening vaccination to residents 18 and older. When it will be available to a younger demographic is not yet known.
“The risk from COVID-19 has been reduced,” said Russell. “Not eliminated.”
Dr. Russell said we are nearing the point where we can see the end of this pandemic but that doesn’t mean we can slip on public health guidelines. Premier Higgs urged those who have their first vaccine shot and those who are fully vaccinated to continue complying with the yellow zone restrictions.
“We can’t rush ahead or take shortcuts,” said Russell.
Dr. Russell said that now is the time to protect ourselves, our family, and our communities from COVID-19. She named senior homes and other long-term residential sites as top spots to look out for.
Dr. Russell announced a new outbreak at a special care home in Shediac after an employee tested positive. PROMPT teams are onsite now.
There were nine new cases confirmed for today. Of those, six are in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and three new cases are in the Fredericton region, Zone 3. There are 134 cases of COVID across the province.
More than 1,000 people are currently isolating in New Brunswick. Even with outbreaks in hotels like the Delta Fredericton, Premier Blaine Higgs said that he does not regret adding isolation hotels to the COVID-19 plan.
“The true measurement at the end of the day is the control of the spread,” said Higgs.
With the rise of cases in schools in the Fredericton zone, one reporter questioned if it was still a good idea to keep schools open. Dr. Russell said that they are in close communication with ECD representatives. She said that isolating close contacts and testing on day 10 has been an approach that is working for them.
“We ask families to be vigilant,” said Higgs, in regards to positive cases in schools.
Premier Higgs’ also addressed the confusion surrounding Fredericton’s current state in the yellow zone.
“I understand the rising number of active cases in Fredericton is concerning,” he said. “Public Health is keeping a close eye on the situation.”
Contact tracers connected all active cases to either previous cases or travel. Higgs said that if the situation changes they will not hesitate to act, but only on the recommendation of Public Health.
In the upcoming weeks, Higgs said they will ask employers for more assistance. He said they will need to communicate when there are contacts of cases within their facility.
“It is very important that information flows freely so we can stay on top of the situation,” said Higgs.
Higgs said they are putting together a plan for loosening restrictions. The plan for reopening will not be released until it is fully formed.
“The virus is not done with us yet,” said Higgs.
Rachel Smith is an intern at Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
