GNB: 75 recoveries / 40 new cases / active cases down to 470

Press Release

02 November 2021

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Public Health reported 40 new cases of COVID-19 and 75 recoveries today. The number of active cases is 470.

“Increasing vaccination rates, along with circuit breaker measures in high-risk areas, are having a positive impact,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “Recoveries continue to outpace new cases, bringing our active cases down, as well. I encourage everyone to keep up the great work because they are making a difference.”

Of the new cases, 27 – or 67.5 per cent – are unvaccinated and 13 – or 32.5 per cent – are fully vaccinated.

There are 14 people in an intensive care unit; 10 are unvaccinated, one is partially vaccinated, and three are fully vaccinated.

There are 24 people in hospital, including 14 who are unvaccinated, one who is partially vaccinated and nine who are fully vaccinated. There is currently no one 19 or under in the hospital.

Public Health has confirmed that one person 80-89 in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) has died because of COVID-19.

Circuit breaker reminder

The following areas are currently under a circuit breaker: Zone 1 (Moncton region); most of Zone 2 (Saint John region); the northern portion of Zone 3 (Fredericton region); all of Zone 4 (Edmundston region); and all of Zone 5 (Campbellton region).

More information about the circuit breaker rules, including a detailed list and map of affected communities, is available online.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 85.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 92.7 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

Health-care personnel – including those working in long-term care facilities – and residents of First Nations communities can now book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if six months have passed since their second dose of a vaccine. They must bring their proof of vaccination, i.e. immunization record, to their appointment.

People 65 and older and school personnel are now permitted to book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if six months have passed since their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Those who have received one or two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are permitted to book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if 28 days have passed since their second dose.

Appointments for first and second doses, as well as a booster dose for those eligible, can be scheduled at a regional health authority vaccination clinic through the online booking system or at a participating pharmacy. Residents of First Nations communities can also book an appointment at a community clinic.

A list of upcoming clinics is available online.

CUPE strike affecting pandemic response

While Public Health has implemented contingency plans, the CUPE strike is impacting some areas of the COVID-19 response.

Some regional health authority vaccination clinics and COVID-19 screening at assessment centres have had to be cancelled or rescheduled. At this time, regional health authority vaccination clinics are only accepting people with scheduled appointments and are not able to accommodate walk-in appointments. People are asked to be patient with staff and expect delays.

Other COVID-19 services that have been affected include the cancellation of some of Horizon Health Network’s mobile rapid-screening kit pickup locations and some rapid-screening kit pickup sites within the Vitalité Health Network. A complete list of available sites for Vitalité Health Network is available online.

Four priority groups are now being considered for a PCR test:

• those working and living in vulnerable settings, such as a hospital, long-term care facility or shelter;
• those prioritized by a medical officer of health;
• anyone who is symptomatic, with priority given to those who are unvaccinated; and
• testing required for travel, although with no guarantee of a 72-hour turnaround for test results.

Regional breakdown of new cases

The 14 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• seven people 19 and under;
• a person 20-29;
• four people 30-39;
• a person 40-49; and
• a person 70-79.

Ten cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The nine new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• three people 30-39;
• a person 40-49;
• two people 50-59;
• a person 60-69; and
• a person 70-79.

Six cases are under investigation and three are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The two new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• a person 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.

One case is under investigation and the other is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

The three new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• two people 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.

Two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and the other is under investigation.

The 12 new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;
• two people 20-29;
• three people 30-39;
• four people 40-49;
• a person 50-59; and
• a person 60-69.

Ten cases are under investigation and two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Information on cases in schools is available on the Healthy and Safe Schools website and the COVID-19 dashboard.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with two or more symptoms of the virus is urged to request a test online to get an appointment.

If you have been at the site of a possible public exposure, but remain asymptomatic, you may be able to pick up a rapid-screening kit (while supplies last).

A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Media Contact(s)

Bruce Macfarlane, communications, Department of Health, [email protected]

IHT5