HALIFAX -- New Brunswick Public Health reported three new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Two of the cases are in Zone 3 (the Fredericton region) and involves people in their 20s. Both cases are travel related and they are self-isolating.

The other case is in Zone 7 (the Miramichi region) and involves a person in their 50s. That person is also self-isolating and the case is under investigation.

It's the sixth case this week for the Miramichi region which has only seen a total of 15 cases since the start of the pandemic -- a small fraction of the more than 1,400 the province has recorded.

"We've been doing so well for so long, and so it really is a surprise to see this coming, you know, and people are obviously concerned about the new cases and obviously so many in the past couple days," said Miramichi MLA Michelle Conroy.

Part of what's causing that concern is that one of the new cases of COVID-19 in the region is a presumptive case of the more contagious U.K. variant -- though that has not yet been confirmed. The sample in question has to be sent out and tested at the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg.

"This is the first time this is happening in our community so it's not a cause for panic, but it is a cause to make sure we're all doing our best -- as we always have been -- to follow public health guidelines," said Miramichi Mayor Adam Lordon.

Lordon says the indication he's gotten from public health is that this cluster has been caught early and they are putting several measures in place to stop the spread.

Starting tomorrow, a mass testing clinic will be held over two days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dr. Losier Middle School gymnasium in Miramichi.

  • Thursday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the gymnasium of the Dr. Losier Middle School, 124 Henderson St., Miramichi; and
  • Friday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the gymnasium of the Dr. Losier Middle School, 124 Henderson St., Miramichi.

People with symptoms are asked to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment at the nearest screening centre.

There's no appointment necessary and it's available for people without any symptoms of COVID-19 who want to be tested.

"If folks think whether they've been to the school or in general, or feeling a heightened sense of anxiety about it, they can go get tested and alleviate those concerns," Lordon said.

This raises the number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick to 1,438. Since Tuesday, two people have recovered, increasing the number of active cases to 37. Of those, three people are in hospital, including two in intensive care.

There have been 28 deaths since the pandemic began. Public health staff conducted 753 tests on Tuesday, raising the overall total to 230,540.

EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS IN MIRAMICHI

Public Health has identified potential public exposures to the virus at the following locations in Zone 7. Individuals who tested positive were in these establishments but do not have the exact times they were present in these businesses. It is believed it was for a short duration on the following dates:

  • Sobeys on Feb. 15, Feb. 19, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 (273 Pleasant St., Miramichi).
  • Atlantic Superstore on Feb. 15, Feb. 23 and Feb. 28 (408 King George Hwy., Miramichi).
  • Shoppers Drug Mart on Feb. 15, Feb. 17 and Feb. 26 (397 King George Hwy., Miramichi).
  • Dollarama on Feb. 20 (100 Douglastown Blvd., Miramichi).
  • Winners on Feb. 22 and Feb. 24 (2441 King George Hwy., Miramichi).
  • Giant Tiger on Feb. 24 (2441 King George Hwy., Miramichi).
  • Walmart on Feb. 24 (200 Douglastown Blvd., Miramichi).
  • Bulk Barn on Feb. 27 (100-99 Douglastown Blvd., Miramichi).
  • NB Liquor on Feb. 27 (221 Pleasant St., Miramichi).

Reminder of Orange level

All zones remain in the Orange level under the province’s mandatory order.