N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 5 new cases, Moncton cluster among not fully vaccinated young people

Public Health reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and revealed that all but two of the 48 active cases in the hardest hit Moncton region, Zone 1, are in young people who are not fully immunized.

The province has previously declined to reveal the vaccination status of cases, citing confidentiality.

Ninety per cent of those cases are under the age of 40, according to a news release.

Public Health has connected 41 of the 48 active cases to a previously identified source. The other cases remain under investigation.

"The cluster of cases we are seeing is what we would expect among people who are not vaccinated and associating closely together," Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said in a statement.

"While you can still catch COVID-19 when you are fully vaccinated, symptoms, if any, tend to be mild, thereby not increasing stress on the health-care system. The recent cases we have seen are largely amongst our younger people who have not been fully vaccinated."

She urges young people to book an appointment, if they haven't already done so, and to encourage their friends to do the same.

A total of 69.8 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older are now fully vaccinated, up from 69 per cent on Friday, and 82.8 per cent of the eligible population have received their first dose, up from 82.6.

Only 6,593 New Brunswickers rolled up their sleeves in the past three days, the COVID-19 dashboard shows. That includes 4,952 second doses and 1,641 first doses.

The seven-day average of doses administered daily has dropped to 1,884, according Oliver Dueck, a software developer based in Fredericton, who has been tracking the province's vaccine data for several months.

This is the first time it has been below 2,000 since June 10, he observed.

At the current rate, Dueck predicts the province won't reach its goal to have 75 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated until Aug. 28. Its original target was Aug. 2.

Anyone 12 or older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and anyone who has received a first dose can get a second dose after 28 days.

People can also book an appointment online through a Horizon or Vitalité health network clinic or through a participating pharmacy.

They are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving a second dose, a copy of the record of immunization they received after getting their first dose.

66 active cases

The five new cases confirmed Monday put the province's active case count at 66.

No one is in hospital because of the respiratory disease.

Here is a breakdown of the new cases:

Moncton region, Zone 1, two cases:

•  Two people 20 to 29

Saint John region, Zone 2, two cases:

• A person 19 or under
• A person 40 to 49

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

Miramichi region, Zone 7, one case:

• A person 30 to  39

This cases is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Earlier Monday, when the active case count for the Moncton region, Zone 1, was still listed as 56 instead of 48, Ray Harris, a data analyst in Fredericton who maintains a COVID-19 tracking website, observed that was the highest case count the region had seen since Feb. 4.

The region had 49 cases on June 7, and 47 cases on Feb. 6, he told CBC News.

New Brunswick has had 2,439 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic. There have been 2,326 recoveries so far and 46 COVID-related deaths.

Since Friday 2,107 tests were conducted, for a total of 387,160.

Confirmed case in Listuguj First Nation

A case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Listuguj First Nation, the band council has advised the community in a Facebook post.

"On the evening of August 7, Quebec Public Health notified the Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government that a community member tested positive for COVID-19," it says.

The person who tested positive is self-isolating, and Quebec Public Health is conducting contact tracing to identify people who have been in close contact with the individual, according to the post.

"Be advised, if you had your first vaccine ONLY, and have been in contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19, you need to be tested."

Anyone who has been in close contact, regardless of vaccination status, will be asked to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms to limit any potential spread, the post suggests.

The Listuguj Community Health Services will provide support to families directly affected, it adds, urging members to be compassionate and wishing the infected individual a "swift and full recovery."

6 reports of Bell's palsy following Pfizer

Six New Brunswickers have suffered Bell's palsy following immunization with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Department of Health.

Bell's palsy is an episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the face, which typically occurs suddenly and is temporary.

On Friday, Health Canada updated the product information for the Pfizer vaccine to include "very rare" reports of Bell's palsy.

Cases have been reported in "a small number" of people in Canada and around the world, it said.

In New Brunswick, of the 274 adverse events following immunization reported as of July 31, Bell's palsy was reported in six Pfizer cases, said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

That "corresponds to a rate of 0.845 per 100,000 administered doses," he said in an emailed statement.

Bells palsy was previously listed as a possible side-effect of the Moderna vaccine.

No cases related to Moderna have been reported in New Brunswick to date, said Macfarlane.

"COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, including severe illness, hospitalization and death, and far outweigh any risks or side-effects," he said.

Symptoms of Bell's palsy usually start to improve after a few weeks.

12 reported cases of myocarditis/pericarditis

New Brunswick has had 12 reported cases of myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, or pericarditis, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, following COVID-19 immunization, the Department of Health said Monday.

Eight have been related to the Moderna vaccine, three to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and one to AstraZeneca-Oxford, said spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

He did not respond to a request for further information, such as how many of the cases were considered serious, or a breakdown by region, age group or gender.

In June, a report from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory group suggested mRNA vaccines "may be a new trigger" for myocarditis and that the risk increases with the second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, but that the benefits of vaccination still outweigh any risk from heart inflammation.

The advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) said early data from its database showed a rate of 4.4 reported cases of heart inflammation per million first doses given of any mRNA vaccine in the 21 days following vaccination. For second doses, that rate increased to 12.6 reported cases per million.

Available data suggests a likely link between myocarditis and mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults, where the occurrences have been most noted, the group said. Young men are more likely to develop the symptoms than women.

Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath, but a sizable majority of the inflammation cases tracked so far did not require hospitalization, it said. Of those that did, just a handful of patients required intensive care treatment.

83 'serious' reactions after vaccination

Of the 274 adverse events following immunization reported in New Brunswick as of July 31, 83 were deemed "serious/medically important" and 191 were reported as "non-serious," according to Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

That works out to a rate of eight per 100,000 doses administered for serious events, he said, and 18.4 for non-serious.

An adverse event is defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada as "any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization." It isn't necessarily causally related to the usage of the vaccine.

An event is considered serious if it:

• Results in death.
• Is life-threatening, such as anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
• Requires in-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization.
• Results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity.
• Results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect.

Examples of non-serious events include injection site pain or swelling, diarrhea and slight fever.

New Brunswick, like other provinces, tracks and reports all adverse events weekly. 

As of July 31, 1,036,982 vaccine doses had been administered.

Fully vaccinated Americans welcomed with excitement and wary eye

Canada started easing border restrictions for visitors from the U.S. on Monday, and Woodstock Mayor Arthur Slip describes the feeling in his town as a combination of excitement and apprehension.

"I would say most people in our community are glad to see this change coming," he said.

"But everyone is going to continue monitoring. We're certainly watching the numbers."

It's been a month since fully vaccinated Canadian travellers have been allowed to return home and skip quarantine. 

The loosening of restrictions continued Monday with fully vaccinated Americans, who can now enter the country. They won't have to quarantine.

"Probably the greatest impact is going to be seen in family visits and people from the U.S. that own vacation properties here," said Slipp.

That's the group of Americans who are expected to enter the border first.

During the pandemic, Slipp said, tourism in western New Brunswick was hit hard.

"The New Brunswick staycation and the Atlantic bubble has given some internal and Atlantic travel, but the American visitor here in western New Brunswick is a very, very important part of our tourism season."

He said restaurants and motels were the businesses who suffered the most, but the border closure also took a toll on retail businesses up and down the St. John River.

Comfort in technology

Slipp said he finds comfort in Arrive Canada, an app that requires travellers entering Canada to pre-register and upload documents such as their negative COVID-19 test results and their proof of vaccination. 

He also said a number of people in Woodstock and towns nearby have said they will continue to use their masks, and that others are being considerate and understanding of these individuals.

"Apprehensive remains the word of the day. But a year and a half is a long time.We're getting ready to open for business."

Specialist calls for close monitoring now that border is open

Dr. Anna Banerji, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Toronto, says the reopening of the border is good for the economy and for families who will finally be able to reunite after a long time.

"But America clearly doesn't have COVID under control," she told Information Morning Fredericton.

She was already concerned that  some provinces, including Alberta, have stopped contact tracing when new COVID-19 cases emerge. 

"And you need to do contact tracing to know where the source is and if it is coming from the States."

Now she's also concerned that children from the U.S. who are less than 12 years old and have fully vaccinated parents will not have to complete 14 days of quarantine when they enter Canada. 

"We're going to be introducing a lot more COVID here in slightly different strains, so we have to monitor it very closely," she said.

According to Banerji, it wouldn't be surprising if some border regulations are reinstated if there is a rapid escalation of COVID, or an introduction of new variants

Banerji said the U.S. is well into its fourth wave of COVID-19 and the loosening of restrictions might accelerate a fourth wave in Canada.

"And my question is, will Americans be co-operative with masking and physical distancing when it is not done in the states they are from?"

She said it is hard to know when the best time to loosen border restrictions is. 

"I think we need to monitor it very closely and we will only know if it is too soon when we start seeing the cases rise related to Americans."

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and 16 active cases, with one person being treated in intensive care.

Newfoundland and Labrador reported no new cases and has six active cases as the province prepares to drop mandatory masks requirements on Tuesday. 

Prince Edward Island, which does not give a daily update, still has four active cases, according to the province's COVID-19 website.

New exposure notices

Public Health has identified new possible exposures to the coronavirus in the following locations:

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Aug. 6 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Canadian Tire, 1380 Mountain Rd, Moncton
• Aug. 2 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – New Brunswick Day, Hillsborough Arena, 32 Mill Street, Hillsborough
• Aug. 8 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Alma Lobster Shop, 36 Shore Lane, Alma
• Aug. 7 between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. – Cassi Lounge and Bar, 221 St. George St., Moncton

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Aug. 5 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Value Village, 212 McAllister Dr., Saint John
• Aug. 5 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. – Princess Auto, 35 Depot Ct., Saint John
• Aug. 5 between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Hampton Brewing Company, 65 Robertson Rd, Hampton
• Aug. 4 between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Mrs. Dunster's Bakery, 30 Leonard Dr., Sussex

Previous exposures

Public Health identified positive cases in people who may have been infectious while travelling on the following flights:

• July 26 – WestJet Flight 3404 – from Toronto to Fredericton, departed at 4 p.m.

• July 25 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 7:54 p.m.

• July 25 – Air Canada Flight 7546 – from Toronto to Fredericton, departed at 2:27 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. 5 between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Aug. 4 between 10:30 a.m. and midnight, and Aug. 2 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Pump House, 5 Orange Lane, Moncton

• Aug. 4 between 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Aug. 2 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., July 31 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., July 30 between 4 p.m. and midnight and July 29 between 3 p.m. and midnight - Monk10 Taproom and Fine Eatery, 40 Highfield St., Moncton

• Aug. 4 between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Planet Fitness, 80 Mapleton Rd., Moncton

• Aug. 4 between 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. – NB Liquor, River Road, Salisbury

• Aug. 3 between noon and 1 p.m. - Quai Aboiteau Wharf Restaurant and Bar, 77 Chemin du Quai, Cap-Pelé

• Aug. 3 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Fit for Less, 165 Main St., Moncton

• Aug. 3 between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. - Sandbar Restaurant, 70 Pointe Du Chêne Rd., Shediac

• Aug. 3 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., Aug. 4 between 7:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. – Global Pet Foods, 106-450 Pinewood Rd., Moncton

• Aug. 3 between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Chez Ange Bistro, 318 Main St., Shediac

• Aug. 3 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Boutique Beausoleil, 231 Parlee Beach Rd., Pointe-du-Chêne

• Aug. 3 between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Laundromat, 382 George St., Moncton

• Aug. 2 between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. - Tire Shack, 190 John St., Moncton

• Aug. 2 between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - Residence Inn by Marriott, 600 Main St. Moncton

• Aug. 2 between 7  p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - Boardwalk, 2800 Mountain Rd., Moncton

• Aug. 2 between midnight and 3:30 a.m., and Aug. 3 between 9:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. – Miss Cue, 459 Mountain Road, Moncton

• Aug. 1 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Osaka Hibachi, 599 Main St., Moncton

• Aug. 1 between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Carrabas Italian Grill, 1000 Main St., Moncton

• Aug. 1 between 8:30 p.m. and closing – Sports Rock, 451 Paul St., Dieppe

• Aug. 1 between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.- Katch Seafood & Pizza Girls, 827 Main St., Moncton

• Aug.1 between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Goya's Pizza, 96 Main St., Sackville

• July 31 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Pump House, 5 Orange Lane, Moncton

• July 30 between noon and 11:30 p.m., July 31 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. – La Coast, 358 Main St., Shediac

• July 30 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., July 31 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Gahan House Hub City, 55 Queen St., Moncton

• July 30 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Keg Steakhouse, 576 Main St., Moncton

• July 30 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.- Angie's Show Palace, 187 Champlain St., Dieppe

• July 30 between 7 p.m. and midnight - Osaka Hibachi, 599 Main St., Moncton

• July 30 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. - Cassi Lounge, 212 St. George St., Moncton

• July 30 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. - Kings Club, 841 Main St., Moncton

• July 30 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Cannabis NB, 40 Wyse St., Moncton 

• July 30 between noon and 2 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore, 65 Main St., Moncton 

• July 30 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. – H&M, 1477 Paul St., Dieppe 

• July 30 between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Chapters,  499 Paul St., Moncton 

• July 30 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Tokai Ramen,  823 Main St., Moncton

• July 29 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Tide and Boar, 700 Main St., Moncton

• July 29 between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. – Captain Dan's, 50 Pointe Du Chêne Rd., Shediac

• July 29 between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.  – St. James Gate, 14 Church St., Moncton 

• July 29 between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Magic Mountain Mini Putt, 150 Magic Mountain Rd., Moncton 

• July 28 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Pump House – Brewpub & Restaurant,  5 Orange Lane, Moncton

• July 28 between 3 p.m. and midnight and July 29 between 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Cheers' Beverage Room and Catering, 63 Brandon St., Moncton

• July 28 between 3 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. – Pizza Delight, 188 Mountain Rd., Moncton

• July 28 between 8 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., July 29 between 4 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., July 30 between 8 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., July 31 between 4 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., and Aug. 1 between 9:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. – The Furnace Room, 191 Robinson St., Moncton

• July 27 between noon and 3 p.m. – Skipper Jack's Maritime Restaurant, 211 Mapleton St., Moncton

• July 26 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - CAVOK, 250 Dieppe Blvd., Dieppe

• July 26 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Third Glass, 819 Main St., Moncton

• July 25 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., July 26 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., July 28 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., July 30 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. and July 31 between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Gusto's Italian Grill and Bar, 130 Westmorland Dr., Moncton

• July 25 between 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. – Mama's Pizza, 806 Main St., Moncton

• July 25 between 10 a.m and 5 p.m., July 30 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Sandbar Restaurant, 70 Pointe-du-Chêne Rd., Shediac

• July 25 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., July 30 between 8:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., July 31 between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Pub 1755, 439 Champlain St., Dieppe

• July 25 between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., July 30 between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. – The Furnace Room, 191 Robinson St., Moncton

• July 25 between 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., July 30 between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. – Wize Guyz Pub, 176 Robinson St., Moncton

• July 24 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., July 31 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. – The Furnace Room, 191 Robinson St., Moncton

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• July 31 between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.– Montana's Restaurant, 51 Depot Court

• July 30 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Britt's, 42 Princess St., Saint John

• July 30 between 8 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. – Eighty Three Bar Arcade, 43 Princess St., Saint John

• July 27 between 5:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m. – Saint John Ale House, 1 Market Sq., Saint John

• July 27 between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Hopscotch, 4 Canterbury St., Saint John

• July 27 between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Italian By Night, 97 Germain  St., Saint John

• July 27 between 10:15 p.m. and midnight – Churchill's Bar and Pub, 8 Grannan St., Saint John

• July 27 between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. – Uptown Pub Down Under Bar, 88 Prince William St., Saint John

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

There is a single exposure notice for the Fredericton area on July 26 for Maritime Bus Coach 1908, from Moncton to Fredericton, which departed at 4:20 p.m.

Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Aug. 4 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Aquaparc de la Rivière Tracadie, 3205 Alcide Rd., Tracadie

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• August 4 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Aug. 3 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. – High Q dispensary, 2898 Peters Rd., Esgenoopetitj First Nation

• Aug. 4 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Vicker's River Tubing, 906 Howard Rd., Blackville

• Aug. 1 between noon and 9 p.m. – Bay du Vin Island Event

• Aug. 1 between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. – Westside Bar, 546 MicMac Rd., Esgenoopetitj First Nation

• July 31 between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., Aug. 1 between 11 p.m. to close – Pub 981, 981 Principale St., Neguac

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.

With files from Information Morning Fredericton