New Brunswick Public Health reported 72 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.
There are 32 new cases in the Moncton region, 13 new in the Saint John area, 21 cases in the Fredericton health zone, and six new in the Miramichi region.
“49 per cent of new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick were the result of transmission within private household,” Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical health officer, said during a news conference.
“The average age of a new case during the past week is 33 years of age, much younger than what we were seeing earlier in the pandemic.”
There are 28 people in hospital due to the virus, 14 require an intensive care unit.
The province’s active caseload stands at 566 after 71 recoveries. There are 182 active cases in the Moncton region, 131 in the Saint John zone, 124 in the Fredericton area, and 111 in the Miramichi region.
87.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 93.3 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.
Circuit Breaker
Beginning Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., circuit breaker measures in the Moncton region and the Miramichi health zone will end.
“The circuit breaker measures worked well in most zones, but after six weeks they were not having the desired effect in Zone 1, the Moncton region, and we needed to change our approach. We have to find the balance between what we think of as back to normal and living with the reality of COVID-19,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.
New Targetted Measure
The province has announced new measures for households, which begin Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
If a person tests positive for COVID-19 everyone in that home must self-isolate for 14-days regardless of vaccinated status.
“Also members who are fully vaccinated and test negative with a PCR test on day five will be able to leave isolation, and this is because we recognize even though you’ve been vaccinated you can still be a carrier,” said Higgs.
Higgs added a PCR test must still be taken 10-days after to confirm the negative result.
The new measure impacts the entire province.
Public Service Vaccination Update
On Friday, Nov. 19, public service employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Employees without two doses, or without a first dose and a confirmed appointment for their second dose, will be placed on leave without pay effective at the end of the workday Friday.
The majority of employees in the departments, health care, education and crown corporations are fully vaccinated or have received at least one dose of vaccine and have a confirmed appointment for their second dose. Currently, 1,995 employees or 3.3 per cent are unvaccinated.
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