N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province enters Phase 1 of path to green at midnight, 3 new cases
'We got 'er done,' Jennifer Russell says after target of 75% first-dose vaccination is reached
Latest
- Phase 2 could be reached 'within days'
- Phase 3 could be reached 'weeks' earlier than Aug. 2
- Liberal MLA breaks news
- 85 active cases
- N.S., P.E.I. and N.L. to open to Atlantic Canada June 23
- Free bus rides to Saint John vaccination clinics
- Latest public exposure
- Previous public exposures
New Brunswick has hit its 75 per cent first-dose vaccination target and will enter the first phase toward the green level of COVID-19 recovery at midnight, the province announced Tuesday.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell also announced three new cases of COVID-19.
A total of 520,913 of New Brunswickers have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, she said. That's 75.1 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 or older.
"We got 'er done. … So one thumb up," said Russell, calling it an "incredible milestone."
The province can now begin to gradually reopen and loosen some restrictions, she told the news conference.
Among the changes under Phase 1 of the path to green, the steady 15 of contacts will be eliminated and people from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Cumberland County in Nova Scotia, and Avignon and Témiscouata, Que., will be able to visit without the need to isolate or get tested.
Cross-border commuters and truckers won't be subject to isolation and testing requirements either.
Not only have we reached the first phase, the second phase is within days and hours. And the third phase could be within a few, three weeks — far ahead of schedule — if we stay on track with what we're doing.- Blaine Higgs, premier
Premier Blaine Higgs called the province's progress "exciting."
"Not only have we reached the first phase, the second phase is within days and hours. And the third phase could be within a few, three weeks — far ahead of schedule — if we stay on track with what we're doing," he said.
The province had originally hoped to reach the Phase 1 target on June 7, and fell just shy a week later at 74.8 per cent on Monday.
Russell thanked everyone who helped make reaching the goal possible, from the Horizon and Vitalité health networks, which organized the clinics, to the pharmacists and other health-care workers who administered the doses, to the people who rolled up their sleeves.
"We can take tremendous pride in what we have accomplished to date," she said, "but we are not done yet."
Russell expects case numbers to increase as borders open and new variants to be introduced.
Until Phase 3, when 75 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers get their second dose, people must continue to follow Public Health measures such as wearing a mask in public, physical distancing, and regular hand washing, she advised. They should also continue to watch for COVID symptoms and get tested if any develop, even if they're mild.
Russell said she's "very encouraged" by the second-dose campaign so far.
Nearly 12 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are now fully vaccinated. That includes 18 per cent of New Brunswickers 65 or older.
The goal to move to Phase 2 is to have 20 per cent of that age demographic vaccinated with two doses by July 1.
"We expect that tens of thousands more will be fully vaccinated in the weeks ahead, said Russell, noting a record 26,000 people booked appointments online Monday, when eligibility expanded to include anyone who received their first dose in April.
"When we get to our next goal, we'll have two thumbs up," she said.
The province started posting second-dose data by age cohorts on the COVID-19 dashboard Tuesday.
Higgs said he's confident the Phase 2 target will be achieved by week's end.
"In fact, because of the impressive progress we have made, we are no longer attaching a specific … timeline date to this because we are so confident we'll be there so soon."
Among the changes under Phase 2, New Brunswick will open to the rest of Nova Scotia without the need for isolation or testing and Canadian travellers who have had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine will be allowed into the province without the need to isolate. Those who have not been vaccinated will also be allowed in but will be subject to isolation and testing requirements.
Hospitalizations must remain low and all health zones must remain at the yellow COVID alert level to move to the next phase.
Higgs also expects to reach Phase 3, the full reopening, "weeks" before the scheduled Aug. 2, New Brunswick Day, provided people "stay focused" and "keep the momentum going."
The chief medical officer of health encourages New Brunswickers who received a Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as their first dose to take the first available appointment for their second dose, regardless of which mRNA vaccine is offered.
"They are completely interchangeable," said Russell, drawing a comparison to taking Advil, Motrin or ibuprofen for a headache. "The active ingredient works the same way and each is as effective as the other."
People can book an appointment online through a Horizon or Vitalité Health Network clinic, or through a participating pharmacy.
On June 21, eligibility for second dose appointments will be extended to include everyone, as long as at least 28 days have passed since their first dose.
Liberal MLA breaks news
Liberal house leader Guy Arseneault broke the news about New Brunswick reaching Tuesday's COVID milestone in a morning Facebook post.
"We will move to the Phase 1 of the green at midnight tonight as 75.1% of the population of NB have received their first dose of vaccine," the MLA for Campbellton-Dalhousie wrote.
He quickly updated his public post to say New Brunswick "should move" to Phase 1 at midnight. There will be a news conference at 2:30 p.m., he said.
Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch had also confirmed to Radio-Canada in advance of the news conference that the first-dose vaccination rate was over 75 per cent.
Arseneault had also revealed in his Facebook post that 18 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 65 and older had received their second dose. "Goal to move to the Phase 2 is 20% by July 1st."
85 active cases
There are 85 active cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, the chief medical officer announced Tuesday.
Seven people are hospitalized in New Brunswick, including two in an intensive care unit. One New Brunswicker is also hospitalized out of province in an intensive care unit.
Here is the breakdown of the three new cases:
Fredericton region, Zone 3, two cases:
- A person 20 to 29
- A person 80 to 89
One is a contact of a previous case and the other is under investigation.
Bathurst region, Zone 6, one case:
- A person 50 to 59
This case is a contact of previous case.
New Brunswick has had 2,302 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 2,171 recoveries so far and 45 COVID-related deaths.
A total of 352,506 tests had been conducted, including 1,118 on Monday.
N.S., P.E.I. and N.L. to open to Atlantic Canada June 23
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador all announced plans Tuesday to reopen to the rest of Atlantic Canada on June 23.
Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin said residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days on entering the province.
"Our case numbers and hospitalizations are low and every day we are putting more and more vaccines into the arms of Nova Scotians," Rankin said in a statement. "Low case numbers across the Atlantic provinces are a signal that reopening to our neighbours is the right step."
The decision came in consultation with Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, and his public health team, who are constantly reviewing and evaluating the epidemiology, according to a news release.
"The epidemiology across the region is showing similar numbers, which allows us to ease the border restrictions," Strang said. "We will be watching the situation closely; however, as we have done before, we will move quickly if we see case numbers on the rise."
Conversations with the three other Atlantic premiers are ongoing, and Nova Scotia continues to work on co-ordinating timing to open to the rest of Canada, the release said.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said visitors from the other Atlantic provinces will be able to enter without any testing or self-isolation requirements.
In a media release, the premier's office cited high vaccination and low COVID-19 infection rates across the Atlantic region as reasons for its decision.
Atlantic Canadians with at least one dose of vaccine will be able to visit P.E.I. without self-isolating, said Premier Dennis King.
The changes are being made possible by the rate at which Islanders are rolling up their sleeves for vaccines, he said , and by increased deliveries of vaccine.
Free bus rides to Saint John vaccination clinics
Saint John Transit is offering free bus rides on all regular routes to anyone travelling to and from the vaccination clinics being held this week at Exhibition Park.
The clinics are operating by appointment only Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
There is also an AstraZeneca clinic being held by appointment only for people 55 and older on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
People can book an appointment online through the Horizon Health Network.
Upon boarding the bus, riders need only inform the bus driver that they are going to or from the vaccination clinic, the city said in a news release.
The closest bus stop is located just steps away from the clinic, at the entrance to Exhibition Park, along Route 31 Forest Glen. Riders must wear a mask at all times when traveling on any city bus.
Latest public exposure
Public Health has identified a potential public exposure to the coronavirus in the Bathurst region, Zone 6:
- Emelien Savoie Workshop – Boat Repair, 11 Centre St., Pigeon Hill, June 5 to June 11.
Public Health is offering COVID-19 testing to anyone who has been in a public exposure area, even if they are not experiencing any symptoms. Residents may request a test online or call Tele-Care 811.
People experiencing one or more symptoms are also encouraged to get tested.
Previous public exposures
Public Health has identified numerous potential public exposures to the coronavirus in many communities across the province, so many that it has stopped listing them individually in its daily news release.
A detailed list of the potential exposures, including the locations and dates, is available on the government's COVID-19 website. It is updated regularly.
What to do if you have a symptom
People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:
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Fever above 38 C.
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New cough or worsening chronic cough.
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Sore throat.
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Runny nose.
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Headache.
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New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.
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Difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should:
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Stay at home.
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Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.
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Describe symptoms and travel history.
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Follow instructions.