NB COVID-19 Summary: 7 new cases, most people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began

“The persistent outbreak continues despite the best efforts to limit it,” Russell said, and “most” cases of Zone 4 were the first reported infections in the United Kingdom. He said it was a highly sexual COVID-19 mutant.

Public health is “extremely concerned” and the region must remain at the “for the time being” red COVID alert level to be able to continue contact tracing, she said in a live COVID briefing in Fredericton. It was.

To explain her claim, Russell shared a graphic of the area from March 22nd, which was still at the yellow warning level. Each dot represents a confirmed case and each line represents a connection to another case. At that time, there were 19 cases, all but one that were clearly associated with other existing cases.

She then shared a map of the area from April 7th. Public health has identified three large cases, along with several small groups and individual infections. “It has not yet been established how these large and small clusters relate to other clusters.”

There are also 13 cases still under investigation.

To slow the spread, the state has moved more COVID vaccines to the region, Russell said. As a result, 28.5% of people over the age of 16 in Zone 4 receive at least one dose, compared to the state average of 18.4%.

“New Brunswick is at the crossroads of the COVID-19 pandemic journey. The future course is determined by three Vs: vaccine, variant, and vigilance,” Russell said.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, Chief Medical Officer of Health, urges qualified New Brunswickers to vaccinate as soon as possible. 4:15

She said four people in the hospital had been vaccinated. They got sick after receiving an injection before the vaccine was fully effective.

Three of them were immunized 14 days before the onset of symptoms and the other was immunized less than 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

“Two doses are also a risk, so everyone, whether vaccinated or not, must continue to respect public health guidelines. It’s very important because it can protect you. , The people around you are not yet protected in the community, “Russell emphasized.

146 active cases

There are six new cases in Zone 4 of the Edmundston region, three of which are contacts of previous cases. The other three cases are still under investigation.

Another new case is in Zone 3 of the Fredericton region, which is the contact information for the existing case.

Currently, there are 146 active cases in the state.

This includes 20 people in the hospital, 13 of whom are in the intensive care unit.

So far, 1,686 cases have been confirmed in New Brunswick.

31 people died and 1,508 recovered.

A total of 264,084 tests were conducted, including 1,082 on Wednesday.

Change of vaccination plan

Health Minister Dorothy Shepherd has announced changes to Stage 2 of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program, scheduled for April-May.

She said the clinic would no longer be organized for large employers and home care workers. Instead, people in these groups are vaccinated when the age cohort qualifies.

At a live COVID briefing in Fredericton, Shepherd said, “Focusing on age-based eligibility maximizes efficiency and enables us to adapt to changes in our supply chain.

In addition, rotation workers, truck drivers, and regular cross-border commuters can now choose to schedule their first dose of the vaccine through the Vitalité Health Network or Holizon Health Network Clinic. online Or call 1-833-437-1424. They can still make reservations through the pharmacy.

Some people get the vaccine right away

According to the Secretary-General of the New Brunswick Pharmacist Association, New Brunswick citizens over the age of 55 are readily available as the pharmacy is running out of additional AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines.

Jake Reed said before the long weekend of Easter, the state was able to secure an additional allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 55.

“Although the eligibility period is over 70 years old, we can get that vaccine for this particular vaccine over 55 years old,” Reed said. “They are really pop-ups.”

So far, New Brunswick pharmacies have used only Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. However, many pharmacies throughout the state were willing to accept additional dose allocations.

“Many stores said’yes’,” he said. “So they were able to put together really quickly in their plans to accommodate this extra allocation of vaccines.”

And the appointment is booked soon.

“We were able to do things very quickly. That’s good for our state.”

Reed said this is the only additional pharmacy currently recognized. The pharmacy only recognizes the dose 14 days in advance.

He said he couldn’t tell the government why the additional quotas weren’t announced by public health, but said the pop-up vaccination clinic was a “good thing” for New Brunswick.

“The state is really working hard to get as much dose as possible quickly.”

He said pharmacies throughout the state are ready to administer more vaccines, but they need supply to increase.

However, Reed expects everyone who wants the vaccine to receive their first vaccination by July 1.

“We want to make sure that all vaccines are given.”

Pandemic changes LSD voting method

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the election situation in the local service districts will be different this spring.

John Cairns, a parish of Simmons, about 36 kilometers northeast of St. John, is concerned that residents may not be fully notified and miss the opportunity to vote.

“No one has received the notification yet,” he said.

The entire community usually gathers in the local hall at designated meeting times for nominations and voting.

This year, you need to register as a resident and vote in advance. Meetings are video and conference calls, and ballots must be mailed.

Residents of Simmons Parish must register to vote by April 14. Their zoom meeting is scheduled for April 28th.

List of exposures

• St. John Regional Y from 6 pm to 7:30 pm on April 1, 2021
• March 31st, 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston)
• March 30th, 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston)
• March 29, 8:45 am to 4 pm – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston)
• March 22nd, 6am-7am – Sparta Progressive Gym (113, 44th Avenue D, Edmundston)

What to do if you have symptoms

People who are worried that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 Take a self-assessment test online..

Public health says it contains symptoms exhibited by people with COVID-19:

• Fever of 38 ° C or higher.

• A new or worsening chronic cough.

• sore throat.

• I have a runny nose.

• headache.

• New onset of malaise, muscle aches, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell.

• Dyspnea.

For children, symptoms also include purple markings on the fingers and toes.

People with any of these symptoms should do the following: