N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Masks required for children over 2 in daycares

Daycare staff and children over two years of age will be required to wear masks in common indoor areas and on buses starting Sept. 7, the province says.

"This means that these children will be required to bring two clean face masks with them every day," the province said in a news release Friday.

The new directive for daycares and early learning centres comes days before school is set to start for the year. The back-to-school plan shared last month mandated all students to wear a mask on school buses and in all areas outside their classroom, but only addressed kindergarten to Grade 12.

The new rules released on Friday will apply to children attending daycares as well as all visitors and staff.

The update to daycare guidelines "strongly encourages" the vaccination of daycare staff, the release said.

The province has previously made it mandatory for kindergarten to Grade 12 school staff to be vaccinated or, if not vaccinated, to go through regular testing for COVID-19.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy said the province can't mandate daycare workers to get vaccinated because they're private businesses and not employed by the province.

"They do have the right to impose exactly the same guidelines that the government has put in place," he said in an interview. "But the government doesn't have the ability at this point to be able to mandate that."

Cardy said he hopes workers get vaccinated without being mandated to do so. He said until children under 12 are able to get a COVID-19 vaccine, the extra measures are necessary.

When the pandemic was first declared there were conflicting ideas about whether masks indeed helped stop the spread of COVID-19 within groups of young children and toddlers. Cardy said the last year has shown children are adaptable and able to wear masks.

"Of course, if you do have a child who can't wear a mask for whatever reason, if they have a neurological issue or sensory issues and there's accommodations there," he said. "But for the enormous majority of kids, it just turned out not to be an issue."

The new rules also stipulate that daycares must keep visitor logs and have a plan to manage an outbreak. 

Outbreak declared at hospital

Two positive cases of COVID-19 have been detected at Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin, about 80 kilometres north of Grand Falls.

The province has declared an outbreak as a result, Public Health said in a news release on Friday.

The release said Public Health and the Vitalité Health Network are investigating the outbreak, "but the risk to the public is considered low."

126 total cases

The province has announced 14 new cases Friday, and nine recoveries. The total number of active cases is 126.

Three people are in hospital because of COVID-19, and two are in the intensive care unit. When asked the vaccination status of the two ICU patients, Health Department spokesperson Gail Harding said "releasing the vaccination status of hospital patients would not be in accordance with privacy legislation."

She said reiterated the message that since July 1, the majority of cases have not been fully immunized. 

As of Friday, 75.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 84.9 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

The 14 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Friday break down this way:

Moncton region, Zone 1, six cases:

• A person 19 and under
• A person 30 to 39
• Two people 40 to 49
• A person 50 to 59
• A person 60 to 69

Four of these cases are under investigation and two of them are contacts of a previously confirmed case.

Saint John region, Zone 2, two cases:

• A person 19 and under
• A person 20 to 29

Both cases are travel related, the province says.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, one case:

• A person 40 to 49

This person is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Edmundston region, Zone 4, three cases:

• A person 19 and under
• A person 20 to 29
• A person 30 to 39.

All three of these cases are contacts of a previously confirmed case.

Bathurst region, Zone 6, one case:

• A person 19 and under

This person is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Miramichi region, Zone 7, one case:

• A person 50 to 59

This case is travel-related.

New possible exposures

Public Health has identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flight:

Aug. 30 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton departed at 7:50 p.m.

Public Health has identified new places in New Brunswick where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus:

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Aug. 31 between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Service NB Dieppe (200-258 Champlain St., Dieppe)
• Aug. 30 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Oceanside Fitness (184 Main St., Shediac)
• Aug. 29 between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. – The Furnace Room (191 Robinson St., Moncton)

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Aug. 30 and 31– Amsterdam Inn & Suites (383 Centerville Rd., Florenceville)

Edmundston region, Zone 4:

• Aug. 27 between 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. – Physiothérapie Nord-Ouest (296 Victoria Rd., Edmundston)

Campbellton region, Zone 5:

• Aug. 28 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. – Irving, 173 Renfrew St., Dalhousie
• Aug. 27 between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Brasserie 1026 Bar & Grill, 157 Water St., Campbellton

Public Health recommends that people who have been at a possible public exposure site and are not fully vaccinated get a COVID test, said Department of Health spokesperson Gail Harding. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811.

For people who are fully vaccinated, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms and get a COVID test if symptoms develop.

Anyone who was at an exposure site at the specified dates and times should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations such as nursing homes, correctional facilities, and shelters for the next 14 days.

Atlantic COVID roundup

• Nova Scotia reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, putting the province's active case count at 55.
• Prince Edward Island, which does not give a daily update, reported three new cases Tuesday. The province has eight active cases. P.E.I. also announced six new exposure sites Thursday related to a visitor who later tested positive for the disease.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported five new cases Friday. There are 29 active cases in the province.

Previous exposure notices

Public Health has identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flights:

• Aug. 29 – Air Canada Flight 8496 – from Toronto to Saint John departed at 2:56 p.m.
• Aug. 27 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 10:28 p.m.
• Aug. 24 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at  8 p.m.
• Aug. 21 – Air Canada Flight 7548 – from Toronto to Fredericton departed at 10:25 p.m.
• Aug. 19 – Air Canada Flight 7548 – from Toronto to Fredericton
• Aug. 19 – Air Canada Flight 8902 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 1:38 p.m.
• Aug. 17 – Air Canada Flight 8902 – from Montreal to Moncton
• Aug. 17 – Air Canada Flight 8506 – from Montreal to Fredericton, departed 7:45 p.m.

Public Health has also identified places in New Brunswick where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus during the past two weeks.

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Aug. 31 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 24/7 Fitness Club, 121 Pine Glen Rd., Riverview
• Aug. 31 between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. – Wise Guyz Pub, 176 Robinson St., Moncton
• Aug. 28 – Hynes Restaurant, 495 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 28 between 1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. – Dollarama, 105 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 28 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Superstore, 165 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 27 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Costco, 140 Granite Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 26 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Catch 22, 589 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 25 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – Homestead Restaurant (358 Coverdale Rd., Riverview)
• Aug. 25 between 8 p.m. and midnight – Miss Cue, 459 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 24 between 5:47 p.m. and 3:52 a.m. – Moncton City Hospital Emergency Room, 135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton
• Aug. 22 between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Dixie Lee Family Restaurant, 9369 Main St., Richibucto
• Aug. 22 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – St. James' Gate, 200 Golf St., Dieppe
• Aug. 20 between 10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. – Casino NB, 21 Casino Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 20 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Costco Wholesale Moncton, 140 Granite Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 20 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Guy's Frenchys, 1567 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 20 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Pump House Restaurant, 51 Orange Lane, Moncton
• Aug. 15 between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., Aug. 17 between noon and 1 p.m., Aug.18 between noon and 1 p.m. and Aug. 19 between noon and 1 p.m. – Route 51 Green Line and Route 62 Hildegard Codiac Transpo, 140 Millennium Blvd., Moncton
• Aug. 18 between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Igloo Bar, 300 Elmwood Dr., Moncton
• Aug.18 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Aug, 16 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., Aug. 13 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Aug. 11 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Aug. 10 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Crowne Plaza Moncton, 1005 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 17 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Tide and Boar Brewing, 1355 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 16 between 5 and 7 p.m. – Boathouse Restaurant, 8588 Main St., Alma
• Aug. 16 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Burger King, 465 Paul St., Dieppe
• Aug. 16 between 12 p.m and 7 p.m – Magic Mountain Water Park, 2875 Mountain Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 15 between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. – Jean's Restaurant, 1999 Mountain Rd., Moncton

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Sept. 1 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Costco, 300 Retail Dr., Saint John
• Aug. 26 between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. – O'Leary's Pub, 46 Princess St., Saint John
• Aug. 17 and 18 – Fairway Inn and JJ's Diner, 216 Roachville Rd., Sussex
• Aug. 17 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.– On the Vine Produce, 1350 Hickey Rd., Saint John
• Aug. 17 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.– Greco, 1350 Hickey Rd., Saint John
• Aug. 16 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Gateway Mall, 138 Main St., Sussex
• Aug. 15 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.– Costco Wholesale Saint John, 300 Retail Dr., Saint John

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Aug. 28 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. – The MacShack (22 Irishtown Rd., Stanley)
• Aug. 26 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Valley Veterinary Hospital (2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug. 25 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Shear Beauty Salon & Spa (155 King St., Fredericton)
• Aug. 25 between noon and 9 p.m. – Valley Veterinary Hospital (2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug. 23 and 24 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Valley Veterinary Hospital (2024 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton)
• Aug. 22 between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Riverbend Golf Course, 541 Route 628, Durham Bridge
• Aug. 21 between noon and 2 p.m. – Boston Pizza, 1230 Prospect St., Fredericton
• Aug. 20 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Ayr Motor Express, 46 Poplar St., Woodstock
• Aug. 19 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – Ayr Motor Express, 46 Poplar St., Woodstock
• Aug. 19 between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. – Fredericton International Airport, arrivals area, 2570 Route 102 Highway, Lincoln
• Aug. 18 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. – Carleton County Court House, 689 Main St., Woodstock
• Aug. 11, 12, 13, 16, and 17 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Springhill Infrastructure Asphalt, 940 Springhill Rd., Fredericton
• Aug. 15 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Grand Falls Cataracts, Baseball Diamond between Chapel Rd and Victoria Rd, Grand Falls

Edmundston region, Zone 4:

• Aug. 28 between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Walmart, 805 Victoria Rd., Edmundston
• Between Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 – Camping St-Léonard, 470 Route 17, St Léonard
• Between Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 – Pinky's Roadside Diner, 470 Route 17, St Léonard
• Aug. 26 – Marché Bonichoix Saint-Quentin, 145 Canada Rd., Saint-Quentin
• Aug. 25 and 26 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Hotel Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin Hospital, 21 Canada Rd., Saint-Quentin
• Aug. 18 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Piste Athlétisme Robert Thibault, 210 Mgr Martin-Est Rd., Saint-Quentin

Campbellton region, Zone 5:

• Aug. 28 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. – Irving, 173 Renfrew St., Dalhousie
• Aug. 27 between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Brasserie 1026 Bar & Grill, 157 Water St., Campbellton
• Aug. 24 – Sport Expert, 100 Roseberry St., Campbellton
• Aug. 24 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Inch Aaran Park, 125 Inch Arran Ave., Dalhousie
• Aug. 24 between 9:30 a.m. to noon – Sugarloaf Mall, 312 Val D'amour Rd., Campbellton
• Aug. 24 at 8:30 a.m. – Circle K Irving, 143 Val D'Amour Rd., Campbellton

Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Aug. 30 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Sobeys, 1125 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 28 between 10 a.m. and noon – Pur & Simple, 930 St. Anne St., Bathurst
• Aug. 27 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Épicerie Frenette, 625 Principale Rd., Beresford
• Aug. 26 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Joey's Pub & Eatery, 2050 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between noon and 4 p.m. – Marshall, 700 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between noon and 4 p.m. – Urban Behavior, 1300 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 23 – Camping Colibri, 913 Acadiens Blv., Route 11, Bertrand
• Aug. 23 between 9 a.m. and noon – Dollorama, 445 St. Pierre Blv., Caraquet
• Aug. 23 – Walmart, 900 St. Anne St., Bathurst
• Aug. 22, 28, 29 between 10 a.m. and noon – Gymnasia, 1935 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 27 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Walmart, 900 St. Anne St., Bathurst
• Aug. 26 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Joey's Pub & Eatery, 2050 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Bathurst Mall, 1300 St-Pierre Rd., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Dixie Lee Restaurant, 1224 St. Peter  Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Marshall's, 700 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 24 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Aubainerie Bathurst, 1300 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst
• Aug. 21 between midnight and 3 a.m. – Party à la O.P. with DJ Saulnier, Army Camp, Leech
• Aug. 18 and 19 – Camping et Aquaparc de la Rivière Tracadie, 3205 Alcide Rd., Tracadie
• Aug. 18 between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Nigadoo Falls Trail, Nigadoo
• Aug. 16 between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. – La Trappe, Vieux Couvent, Caraquet
• Aug. 15 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – La Brôkerie, 39 du Carr Ave., Caraquet

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• Aug. 22 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Gallan's Miramichi River Tubing, 48 Kersey Lane, Doyles Brook
• Aug. 19 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Sailor and Jane Eatery, 1 Jane St., Miramichi
• Aug. 19 between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Jean Coutu Pharmacy, 4 Johnson Ave., Miramichi
• Aug. 19 between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Gallan's Miramichi River Tubing, 48 Kersey Lane, Doyles Brook

The full list of possible exposures is updated regularly and is available on the government's website.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment test online.

Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.

People with one of those symptoms should stay at home, call 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.