Active COVID-19 case numbers in N.B. continue to decline
New Brunswick Public Health reported 89 recoveries and 21 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the number of active cases dropped to 521.
"We are pleased to see the continued decline in active cases in the province," Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said in a news release. "The measures that are in place are having a positive impact and have put us on a good path."
Public health says 13 of the new cases – or 61.9 per cent – are unvaccinated, and eight – or 38.1 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
There are 40 people in hospitalized because of the novel coronavirus. Of those, 20 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated, and 17 are fully vaccinated.
"There are 14 people in an intensive care unit, 11 of whom are unvaccinated; two are partially vaccinated and one is fully vaccinated," public health said in a news release.
There have been 111 COVID-19-related deaths in the province since the pandemic began.
Tuesday was the first day in two weeks New Brunswick hasn't had to report a death from COVID-19.
In Campbellton, the virus has taken a huge toll on the community.
"You look at the numbers from yesterday that tell us we were the highest per capita in Canada," said Campbellton Mayor Ian Comeau. "It tells you something.
The region is on day five of a 14-day circuit breaker and the mayor says it's necessary to clamp down on the fourth wave.
"We had some young people in ICU, you know 40 to 49 and that's another scary thing," Comeau said. "So that's why I think we are going to get out of it and we want to see Christmas."
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LOOMING
Sheila Cummings is a councillor and lay pastor in Perth-Andover, N.B.
"When you lose a loved one, and you don't have the opportunity for someone to come and give you a hug, for someone to come and spend some time with you," Cummings said. "That's the sad part of it; we can't do as much as we would normally do for people."
Cummings lives and works in a community that has spent the last month in the thick of it, with schools closed for several weeks, and the nearby hospital above capacity.
Cummings' church has hosted vaccine clinics, distributed rapid tests, and she's personally helped dozens of seniors navigate the online system -- or drove them to appointments.
It's all led to some difficult conversations with community members.
"I think that mental health in the province is going to have an overload," Cummings said. "They're going to have nurses, and first responders and doctors .... They're going to need the help. All those people who have gone through loss during this time. They're going to need help and I don't think the system can handle the capacity."
She hopes government is preparing for that "overload" now -- rather than later.
RAPID-SCREENING KIT PICKUP PROGRAM
New Brunswick has opened mobile pickup sites to provide easier access to rapid-screening kits.
There are 20 news mobile sites across the province added by Horizon Health Network. Each mobile site will be open one day a week from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A full list of Vitalité Health Network’s 16 sites is available online.
More information about kits is available online.
VACCINATION UPDATE
Public health reported Tuesday that 84 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 92.2 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.
You can book an appointment for first and second doses, as well as a booster dose for those eligible, at a regional health authority community COVID-19 vaccination clinic through the online booking system or at a participating pharmacy.
A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.
CONFIRMED CASES IN SCHOOLS AND CHILD-CARE FACILITIES
You can find information on cases in schools through the Healthy and Safe Schools website and the COVID-19 dashboard.
Public health has confirmed a case at the Dieppe Boys and Girls Club in Zone 1 (Moncton region).
"Affected families have been notified," public health said in a news release. "If you or a family member have been in close contact with a case, you will be notified by Public Health or the facility for contact tracing. If you are not notified directly, you have not been identified as a close contact."
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN OF NEW CASES
Here is a regional breakdown of the new cases:
- two new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region);
- 11 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region);
- three new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region);
- four new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region);
- one case in Zone 7 (Miramichi region).
Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
UPDATE ON OUTBREAK AT MONCTON HOSPITAL
Horizon Health says the outbreak at the Moncton Hospitals' geriatrics unit is "on track" to be declared over on Monday.
Outbreaks on two other units haven't seen a new case in over a week.
POTENTIAL PUBLIC EXPOSURES
If you have symptoms of the virus, or if you have been at the site of a possible public exposure, you are urged to request a test online to get an appointment.
A map of potential public exposures can be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
BREAKING Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, claims he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
Polish prosecutors have discontinued an investigation into human skeletons found at a site where German dictator Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders spent time during the Second World War because the advanced state of decay made it impossible to determine the cause of death, a spokesman said Monday.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined him US$1,000 on Monday for violating his gag order once again and sternly warned the former president that additional violations could result in jail time.