ATLANTIC

Three new COVID-19 cases identified in N.B.; 26 active cases remain

Leigha Kaiser CTVNewsAtlantic.ca Digital Coordinator

Published Saturday, November 7, 2020 12:40PM AST

Text:

HALIFAX -- New Brunswick is reporting three new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, and one of the active cases has recovered.

All of the new cases are in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and include:

an individual 19 and under
two individuals in their 50s

According to the province, all three cases are self-isolating and under investigation.

CASE BREAKDOWN

New Brunswick has 353 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 321 cases have recovered. There have been six deaths, leaving 26 active cases in the province.

Two patients remain in hospital due to the virus, with none in the intensive care unit.

To date, 106,353 COVID-19 tests has been conducted in New Brunswick.

CASE LOCATIONS

The number of cases are broken down by New Brunswick’s seven health zones:

Zone 1 – Moncton region: 94 confirmed cases (1 active case)
Zone 2 – Saint John region: 33 confirmed cases (1 active case)
Zone 3 – Fredericton region: 73 confirmed cases (12 active cases)
Zone 4 – Edmundston region: 8 confirmed cases
Zone 5 – Campbellton region: 137 confirmed cases (10 active cases)
Zone 6 – Bathurst region: 4 confirmed cases (1 active case)
Zone 7 – Miramichi region: 4 confirmed cases (1 active case)

GUIDELINES FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES

New Brunswick public health has issued guidelines for safely commemorating Remembrance Day during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health says that ceremonies of up to 50 people with physical distancing are allowed.

If the gathering is larger than 50, the organizer/business/organization is required to maintain a record of the names and contact information of all persons who attend.

Physical distancing must be enforced at all ceremonies and masks must be warn indoors.

The full list of guidelines is available on the N.B. public health website.

ZONE 5 TO RETURN TO YELLOW

New Brunswick's Campbellton region (Zone 5) returned to the yellow level of the province's COVID-19 recovery plan at midnight Friday.

Public Health says they made the recommendation based upon a consistent downward trend in the number of cases and a significant decline in the risk of further infections.

The Campbellton region had transitioned back to the orange level on Oct. 9, after an outbreak in the area. Between Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 83 new cases were reported in the region.

As of Saturday, there are 10 active cases in the Campbellton region.

In the Yellow level, Public Health measures and guidelines still must be followed. This includes wearing a mask in all indoor public places. Recovery level rules are available online.

“Returning Zone 5 to the Yellow level is the result of an immense amount of collaboration involving public health workers, staff at the regional health authority, local civic leaders and, most importantly, the residents of the region,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “The risks of COVID-19 continue to increase all around the Atlantic bubble. In fact, lockdowns are imminent in England, parts of Europe and in the United States and Canada. That is why we must mitigate the risk by doing our very best to keep the virus out by implementing evidence-based measures such as limiting our number of close contacts, physical distancing, wearing your mask, staying home if you are sick and getting tested even if you have mild symptoms.”

"I'm very proud of our community people really did follow the rules they buckle down really quick and got this under control," said Belledune mayor Joe Noel.

PROVINCE EARMARKS MONEY TO FIGHT COVID

The provincial government also announced an infusion of more than $15 million dollars to combat the virus.

Of that money, $10.5 million will go to nursing homes and adult residential facilities and $3.7 million will help child welfare protection programs which includes group homes and foster homes.

Emergency shelters will receive $1.2 million to help cover some of the costs related to the pandemic.

"We monitor on a regular basis the need within the communities whether it's shelters or housing issues such as income or medicare," said New Brunswick social development minister Bruce Fitch.

Seniors advocate Cecille Cassista says she hopes this money is used in the right way.

"This is a step in the right direction," she said. "Staffing, also protective equipment, we want to make sure this is designated directly to those nursing homes and special care homes.

The province is also designating $2.7 million dollars to help sport and recreation organizations that have been affected by COVID-19.