N.B. reports 306 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday; active infections hit record-high
New Brunswick reported 306 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, along with 139 recoveries, increasing the total number of active infections to 2,017 - the highest active case count the province has seen to date.
Of Tuesday's new cases:
- 111 are in the Moncton region (Zone 1)
- 90 are in the Saint John region (Zone 2)
- 46 are in the Fredericton region (Zone 3)
- nine are in the Edmundston region (Zone 4)
- eight are in the Campbellton region (Zone 5)
- 18 are in the Bathurst region (Zone 6)
- 24 are in the Miramichi region (Zone 7)
No new cases of the Omicron variant were identified on Tuesday.
To date, New Brunswick has confirmed 147 cases of the variant.
HOSPITALIZATION UPDATE
There are 38 patients in hospital with COVID-19 in New Brunswick, 13 of whom are in intensive care. Of those in hospital, 22 are over the age of 60 and nine people are on a ventilator. There is no one under 19 hospitalized.
The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
VACCINE UPDATE
Health officials say 82.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 90 per cent have received their first dose and 18.4 per cent have received a booster dose.
A list of those eligible for a booster dose is available online.
LEVEL 2 RESTRICTIONS
Based on a recommendation from public health, all zones in New Brunswick have been moved to Level 2 of the province's COVID-19 Winter Plan.
The move to Level 2 means the following restrictions are in place:
- The current household plus Steady 20 is replaced with household plus Steady 10.
- Patrons dining at restaurants must show proof of vaccination and tables must be at least two metres apart.
- Restaurants, retail stores, malls, businesses, gyms, salons and spas, and entertainment centres may continue to operate, but at 50 per cent capacity and with two metres of distance between patrons.
- For public gatherings, venues cannot have events with more than 150 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is less.
- Faith venues may operate at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing. Choirs are not permitted but one soloist may perform if they are at least four metres from the congregation.
- All travellers, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, must register or have a multi-use travel pass. Travellers arriving by air will be provided with a rapid test kit.
- Unvaccinated people entering the province must isolate and be tested on day 10. International travellers must follow federal testing and isolation guidelines and must be tested on day five and day 10.
- Travellers must follow public health measures when in New Brunswick including wearing a mask, physically distancing and staying within a Steady 10.
ASSESSMENT CENTRE DELAYS
Public health says assessment centres continue to experience increased demands for PCR testing.
More resources and extended hours have been allotted to the Saint John assessment centre to help clear the backlog of about 2,100 requests.
All priority groups, which include public health referrals, health-care workers and those who work or live in vulnerable settings (such as long-term care), are being scheduled within 48 hours.
Public health says the next priorities are any symptomatic individuals, as well as those who test positive on a point-of-care test. These people are being booked for a test within 144 hours.
In the Fredericton region (Zone 3), there is a backlog of about 545 requests for PCR testing. All priority groups in this region are being scheduled within 24 hours. The next priorities are being booked for a test within 72 hours.
In Zone 1, the Moncton region, the backlog is at about 500 requests. Public health says all priority groups in this region are being scheduled within 24 hours. The next priorities are being booked for a test within 48 hours.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 using a rapid point-of-care test must immediately isolate and book a PCR test.
The individual’s household should also rapid test daily while they await PCR test results.
"As well, you should notify close contacts that you have tested positive on a rapid test and advise them to self-monitor for symptoms. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should schedule a PCR test via an assessment centre," read a release.
POTENTIAL PUBLIC EXPOSURES
A full list of potential COVID-19 exposure notifications in New Brunswick can be found on the province's website.
Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care at 811 to get an appointment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.