N.B. imposes self-isolation requirements on households where someone has tested positive for COVID-19
With transmission within private households the cause of 49 per cent of new cases in New Brunswick, the province is implementing tougher self-isolation rules to combat the spread of COVID-19.
"Beginning (Friday) on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., when someone in a household tests positive for COVID-19, everyone in that household must also self-isolate (for 14 days), regardless of vaccination status," New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday afternoon during a news conference in Fredericton. "This measure will be in place throughout New Brunswick. Household members who are fully vaccinated however, and test negative with a PCR test, will be able to leave isolation. This is because we recognize that even though you've been vaccinated, you could still be a carrier."
In a news release from Public Health, officials said that household members who are fully vaccinated will be able to leave isolation with a Day 5 negative PCR test. A Day 10 PCR test must still be taken to confirm the negative result.
Higgs says health officials want to make sure that vaccinated people can have as normal a life as possible, so they are focusing on the areas that are of greatest concern.
New Brunswick's chief medical officer, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said there are 72 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick.
"The cases remain high which continues to threaten our hospital system," Russell said. "Over the past week, 49 per cent of new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick were the result of transmission within private households."
On Wednesday, New Brunswick reported 82 new cases, which was the highest number in a month.
"Today's number of new cases is 72, above a rolling seven-day average of 60 new cases per day," Russell said. "We have also seen a slight increase in the number of people admitted to hospital and to ICU wards, most of whom are unvaccinated."
Russell said Thursday that there are 28 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 14 of them are in intensive care.
"I must stress that it is the unvaccinated who are most likely to experience the most serious effects of COVID-19," Russell said. "The course of the pandemic is changing and we must change with it, adjusting our measures to precisely target the causes of COVID-19 spread."
The average age of a new COVID-19 patient during the past week is 33 years of age, which is much younger than New Brunswick was seeing earlier in the pandemic, Russell said.
On Thursday, health officials reported 71 recoveries from COVID-19.
"This is an important statistic because it demonstrates that the majority of people who contract the virus are recovering quickly without experiencing the worst effects of the disease," Russell said.
New Brunswick has 566 active cases across the province.
CIRCUIT BREAKER ENDING IN TWO ZONES
New Brunswick health officials also announced that as of Friday at 6 p.m., circuit breaker measures will end in Zone 1 (Moncton region) and Zone 7 (Miramichi region).
"It is incredibly important that we get the spread of this virus under control, especially with the holiday season approaching," Higgs said in a news release. "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."
N.B. ENFORCING UNPAID LEAVE
Higgs also stood firmly behind his government's decision to enforce unpaid leave for any provincial employees who has not received at least one dose of vaccine by end of day Friday.
"If you're not vaccinated tomorrow and you're put off on unpaid leave, you could be out for many weeks in order to go through the vaccination process and maybe, maybe not be able to come back at all," Higgs said.
Higgs says roughly 2,000 government employees have yet to receive their first dose of vaccine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.