New Brunswick Liberals call for increased respiratory illness reporting
With high levels of respiratory illness in New Brunswick, the province urgently needs ramped-up infection reporting and a public update on the state of the health system, the official Opposition's health critic says.
Liberal Rob McKee said in an interview Wednesday that he's disappointed by what he considers "radio silence" from the provincial government about current pressures on the health system caused by influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19.
McKee said he's hearing about the surge of illness from his constituents and he's seeing it first-hand in his family and Moncton neighbourhood.
"This is affecting a lot of people, so many kids are sick. My own kids, kids on their hockey teams," he said.
"This is like something we've never seen before with the triple threat of viruses going around," he added.
The province releases weekly COVID-19 and flu updates, which are reported with a seven-day and 10-day lag, respectively. The most recent reports identified 606 COVID-19 cases between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3 and 513 reported cases of the flu between Nov. 20 and 26.
The province does not share data on respiratory syncytial virus because it's not a reportable disease under New Brunswick's Public Health Act. McKee tabled a motion in the legislature Wednesday that would amend the act to include RSV.
McKee said people in his community are concerned about the circulating illnesses and how the increase in patients is affecting hospitals and health clinics.
The Liberal member of the legislature said the province should hold a news conference to share details on the state of New Brunswick's health system and inform residents how best minimize the risk of getting sick.
Adam Bowie, a spokesperson for New Brunswick's Department of Health, said in an email that the province's acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Yves Leger, would share information with the province "if there were new or important developments." He added that Leger held a media availability with reporters on Nov. 18.
McKee said he felt that briefing was insufficient.
"The government and Public Health need to show some leadership right now and speak directly to New Brunswickers through a public, livestreamed press conference followed by questions from the media," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2022.
By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
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.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.