ATLANTIC

'Our situation is grim': N.B. reports 24 new cases, including 2 at long-term care homes, 1 at Moncton school

Laura Brown CTV News Atlantic Journalist

@LauraBrownCTV Contact

Ryan Van Horne CTVNewsAtlantic.ca Digital Co-ordinator

@RyanVanHorneCTV Contact

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:01PM AST Last Updated Thursday, January 7, 2021 10:20PM AST

Text:

HALIFAX -- New Brunswick reported 24 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the number of active cases to 130 and pushing the number of cases since the pandemic began to more than 700.

"Our situation is grim," Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said during a news conference in Fredericton. "The current situation is the worst we have seen so far during this pandemic."

The province is also dealing with cases at two long-term care homes and a school.

"You can expect that we will see more cases in the coming days," Russell said.

With multiple outbreaks around the province in multiple vulnerable settings, Russell encouraged people to download the COVID-19 app to help contract tracers limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"The fact that we have multiple outbreaks happening around the province in multiple vulnerable settings is unique. We haven't faced this situation before and so when I talk about how serious things are, that's what i'm referring to," Russell said. "The fact that we've experienced in one zone at a time, possibly two, possibly three, but right now, this is spread across the entire province."

After a confirmed case at each facility, rapid-response teams have gone to Canterbury Hall in Riverview and to Fundy Manor II in Hillsborough.

Bessborough School in Moncton was also closed on Thursday after a positive test.

BREAKDOWN OF NEW CASES

Here is where the 24 new cases reported Thursday are located.

Five cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region), including:

one person 19 and under;
three people in their 20s; and
a person in their 30s.

Two cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region), including:

one person in their 20s; and;
one person in their 50s.

Seven cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region), including:

one person 19 and under;
five people in their 30s; and
one person in their 50s.

Five cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region), including:

two people in their 20s;
two people in their 40s; and
one person in their 70.

Five cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region), including:

two people in their 30s;
two people in their 40s; and
one person in their 50s.

All cases are self-isolating and under investigation.

There are 717 confirmed cases in New Brunswick. Of those, 577 have recovered, there are 130 active cases, and there have been nine deaths. One person is in an intensive care unit. As of Thursday, 157,265 tests had been conducted.

They still believe many of the cases will be traced to travel.

"It's important that we do what we can to prevent the U.K. strain of the virus from entering our province," Shephard said. "We are currently finalizing update travel-related information and will have more to share about that (Friday)."

ENTIRE PROVINCE REMAINS AT ORANGE LEVEL

Residents are reminded that the entire province remains at the orange level under the province’s COVID-19 recovery plan. Orange level rules are available online.

"I have no doubt in my mind that if red is required, it will happen," said New Brunswick Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. "We are not there yet. This situation will be assessed every single day. We need to see what this phase will do to help us get things under control."

Russell said going to the red level of restrictions would only be done if absolutely necessary.

"We just know that the ramifications of going to red in terms of what we saw with the first wave were quite negative in terms of unintended consequences and negative outcomes," she said.