Long-term care restrictions to remain for a few weeks after N.B. enters 'Green phase'
Visitor restrictions at New Brunswick long-term care facilities will remain in place for an additional two weeks once the province enters a 'Green phase' of COVID-19 recovery.
"It is really just for our long-term care (facilities) to give them time to deescalate their situations," said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard on Wednesday. "Social Development and Public Health are currently developing guidelines and recommendations for long-term care facilities for when our province reaches 'green.'"
The New Brunswick government says it will ease COVID-19 restrictions under the 'Green phase' when 75 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.
The Department of Health is tracking the number of long-term care employees who've been vaccinated, and has made note of 16 facilities out of 547 where employee vaccination rates sit below 50 per cent (including nine per cent of long-term care facilities in the Edmundston health zone, and seven per cent in the Miramichi health zone).
Cecile Cassista, executive director of the New Brunswick Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, says vaccinations should be a requirement for all long-term care staff and anybody entering those facilities.
"I really think all of this comes down to a mandatory provision," says Cassista.
Shephard says vaccination numbers for long-term care employees have been trending higher as of late, with 80.2 per cent of all staff receiving at least one vaccine dose or signaling they plan to get one.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.