Saint John city councillor who tested positive for COVID-19 says vaccine kept him from getting sick
A Saint John councillor who is both fully vaccinated and "entirely asymptomatic" is now in isolation after contracting COVID-19 and is using his story and platform to encourage others to get their vaccines.
David Hickey, who represents Ward 3, was on his way to Prince Edward Island for the weekend and when he arrived at the border on Friday was given a rapid test, and ended up testing positive for the virus.
"I got the phone call, was instructed by P.E.I. Public Health to then go to their testing facility in Charlottetown," says Hickey.
"I did the PCR test at their testing facility and then proceeded to where we were staying, luckily it was isolated enough that myself and the people I was with were able to stay isolated."
Hickey then received a call from the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Heather Morrison who confirmed to him that he did, in fact, have COVID-19 – he credits his lack of symptoms to the fact that he has received both doses of vaccine and is using his story to encourage others to get it.
"The only reason I'm safe at home, the only reason I'm asymptomatic is because I'm vaccinated." says Hickey. "I would be at much higher risk for various severe symptoms, certainly respiratory in particular."
As of last Thursday, P.E.I. has increased testing at the province's points of entry as a way to catch any cases of COVID-19 early. Dr. Morrison said today that between Friday and Sunday 8,400 people were tested at the borders – a record number.
"There needs to be a clear call to allow more rapid testing to be available to folks," says Hickey, "and allow more rapid testing to become commonplace in making sure that folks are getting tested regularly – vaccinated and unvaccinated."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.