N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province reports 18 new cases in Moncton, Saint John regions

New Brunswick Public Health reported 18 news cases of COVID-19 over Saturday and Sunday in the Moncton and Saint John regions.

There are now 37 active cases in the province. 

The 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 include:

Moncton region, Zone 1, 17 cases:

• Two people under 19.
• 11 people 20 to 29.
• Three people 30 to 39.
• A person 40 to 49.

Nine of the cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, six cases are under investigation and two are travel-related.

The one case in the Saint John region, Zone 2, is a person age 20 to 29 and is travel-related. 

The entire province is now in the green alert level, a change that was made Friday at midnight.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell said Sunday these new cases aren't related to the recent reopening of the province, as the transmissions happened before the move to green.

"What's really concerning is that the majority of cases are ones that aren't fully vaccinated," Russell told Radio-Canada.

"My message today is urgent, that we need to get vaccinated ... we're going to see more outbreaks like this and it's going to touch those that aren't vaccinated."

That have now been 2,383 cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick and 46 deaths. There are no hospitalizations of COVID-19 in the province. 

Vaccination rate up to 67.9 per cent

A total of 67.9 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated, bumped up from 66.7 per cent. 

More than 82 per cent of the population over age 12 has at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Vaccination clinic are being held across the province this holiday weekend.

More will take place Monday:

• Saint John, Exhibition Park, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Moncton, Moncton Coliseum, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Edmundston, St-Jacques Chevalier de Colomb, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Bathurst, Bathurst Public Heath, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Fredericton, Crowne Plaza, noon to 5 p.m. - Pfizer-BioNTech.

New public exposures

Public Health has identified five new possible exposures of COVID-19. 

All of the new possible exposure locations are in the Saint John region. 

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Saint John Ale House, 1 Market Square, Saint John, July 27 between 5:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m. 
• Hopscotch, 4 Canterbury St., Saint John, July 27 between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 
• Italian By Night, 97 Germain  St., Saint John, July 27 between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 
• Churchill's Bar and Pub, 8 Grannan St., Saint John, July 27 between 10:15 p.m. and midnight.
• Uptown Pub Down Under Bar, 88 Prince William St., Saint John, July 27 between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.  

Public Health identified exposures in the Moncton area earlier this week. 

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Maritime Bus, Coach 1908 - from Moncton to Fredericton, departed at 4:20 p.m., July 26
• Tony's Bistro & Patisserie, 137 McLaughlin Rd., Moncton, July 23, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Tony's Bakery (50 rue du Marché, Dieppe, July 20 between 12:45 p.m. and 1:20 p.m., July 26 between noon and 1 p.m. and July 27 between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
• Carrabba's Italian Grill Restaurant, 1000 Main St., Moncton, July 20 between 4 p.m. and 11:35 p.m., July 22 between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and July 23 between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 
• The Third Glass Bar, 819 Main St., Moncton, July 21 between 7 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., July 22 between 4 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., July 23 between 6:30 p.m. and 3 a.m., July 24 between 2 p.m. and 3 a.m. and July 26 between 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.
• Gusto's Italian Grill and Bar, 130 Westmorland Dr., Moncton, July 22 between 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. 
• Starbucks, 361 Champlain St., Dieppe, July 22 between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

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.