New Brunswickers respond to call for help with province's pandemic response
The New Brunswick government issued an urgent call for volunteers Tuesday and, in less than 24 hours, more than 1,600 residents responded to the plea for help with the province’s pandemic response.
“We are encouraged to see so many New Brunswickers step up and answer our call in one day,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.
“Please pass along the word to neighbours, family members and friends to see if they can also give us a helping hand in this fight against the Omicron variant.”
The province is looking to fill both clinical and non-clinical positions.
The clinical work includes:
- administering vaccinations
- COVID-19 testing
- patient services
- personal support work
The non-clinical work includes:
- clerical support
- office administration
- logistical support
- data entry
- customer service
- food preparation and delivery
Those interested in volunteering are asked to complete an online form. Each volunteer will be contacted, but priority will be given to people who can fill areas of highest need.
VACCINATIONS
Since Jan. 10, more than 38,000 appointments have been booked with the regional health authorities for booster doses of an mRNA vaccine. The health authorities have more than 30,000 appointments available between now and Jan. 31. In addition, pharmacies have received nearly 44,000 doses for their COVID-19 clinics.
Fifty-seven per cent of New Brunswickers 50 and over have received a booster; the number increases to 68 per cent among those 60 and over.
Children aged five to 11, who have already received their first dose of the vaccine, will soon be eligible to receive their second dose once eight weeks have passed since their first dose.
To date, 52.6 per cent of children in this age group have received their first dose, leaving about 25,000 children who have not.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The province announced an additional four COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday. The deaths involved:
- a person in their 70s in Zone 1 (Moncton region)
- a person in their 60s in Zone 3 (Fredericton region)
- a person in their 70s in Zone 4 (Edmundston region)
- a person 90 and over in Zone 4 (Edmundston region)
According to public health, 123 people are in hospital with COVID-19 Wednesday, 11 of whom are intensive care. Of those currently hospitalized, 67 were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19.
Of those in hospital:
- 55 per cent of the 11 patients in intensive care are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it has been more than six months since their second dose.
- 98 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are 60 or older
- six people are on a ventilator
- four people 19 or under are hospitalized
The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
Public health says there are currently 342 health-care workers who have tested positive for the virus and are isolating.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.