fr24news– The New Brunswick government will release its winter plan for COVID-19 today instead of Monday, as originally planned, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said.
Shephard said she wanted to respond to public angst that Christmas could be canceled.
Shephard told reporters in the Legislature on Thursday that people should wait until Monday to plan their Christmas trip.
She is “very concerned” about the high number of cases, the “significant amount” of spread in the community and the uncertainty surrounding positive cases of the new, potentially more transmissible COVID-19 variant, omicron, in Quebec and in Ontario, she said.
Shephard and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell to hold COVID-19 briefing at 2:30 p.m.
The event will be broadcast live here on the CBC New Brunswick website.
The goal of the winter plan is to “minimize disruption to people’s lives while protecting our health care system,” Shephard said.
When asked if New Brunswick would follow the lead of other provinces, such as Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and restrict travel for children under 12 participating in the from interprovincial sports tournaments to artistic and cultural events, she said the government has looked to its sister provinces. to see what measures have reduced cases of COVID.
“But I think we’ve found a really good balance to allow people to go about their lives and for us to be able to work together to bring our numbers down. “
The hospital system is strained but not overwhelmed, she said. As of Thursday evening, there were 20 vacant and staffed intensive care beds in New Brunswick.
Vaccinations help “considerably,” Shephard said. “They are the first line of defense in the event of serious illness, hospital admission, ICU admission and death. “
Masking and vaccinations “can take it to a whole new level.”
“Everyone has the power to protect themselves,” she stressed. “If you don’t want to go to the Christmas party, don’t go. “
She noted that 50 percent of transmission still occurs in households.
“The power isn’t really in the hands of the government, the power is in the hands of our people, and they’ve worked really hard, and we think we can keep working that way. “
40 travelers from countries banned from omicron isolated
About 40 people who have traveled from southern African countries where a new, potentially more transmissible variant of COVID-19 has been identified are now self-isolating in New Brunswick, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said.
This is up from eight just two days ago. The number increased when the federal government increased its list of countries to 10 from seven, she said.
Shephard did not disclose where they self-isolate, but said they were monitored daily by the federal government and the province is making sure they have access to testing.
“I haven’t received any indication that Omicron is in New Brunswick,” she said.
As of yet, there are no confirmed cases. She is also unaware of any suspected cases.
691 active cases
Public health on Thursday reported two more COVID-related deaths and 95 new cases of COVID-19.
Sixteen people are in intensive care, including 12 on a ventilator.
Fifty-nine people are hospitalized. One of them is less than 19 years old.
Twenty-six of those patients contracted the virus while they were already in hospital for another reason, with outbreaks at the Moncton Hospital, Saint John Regional Hospital, and Saint John Regional Hospital. Miramichi.
There are now 691 active cases in the province.
A total of 81.8% of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 81.7%, and 87% have received their first dose, up from 86.8.
That’s down from 88% and 93.8% respectively on Sunday, as the province began including children aged 5 to 11 in its immunization statistics.
New Brunswick has recorded 8,506 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic with 7,684 recoveries so far.
A total of 563,144 tests have been carried out to date, including 1,761 on Wednesday.
Notice of public exhibition
Public Health issued several new public display notices on Friday, including a Walmart in the Moncton area, Zone 1, the Ridgewood Addiction Services cafeteria, and sample collection at St. Joseph’s Hospital. in the Saint John area, Zone 2, a Tim Hortons in the Fredericton area, Zone 3, and the Campus of the Acadian Peninsula of the CCNB in the Campbellton region, zone 5.
For a complete list of new and previous public display notices, visit the provincial government website.
People who have not been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before a possible exposure and who have symptoms should undergo a COVID lab test. They can make an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811 and must self-isolate while awaiting the result of their test.
People who are not fully vaccinated and are not showing symptoms are now encouraged to purchase a COVID-19 Rapid Point of Care Test (Rapid POCT) home screening kit. They don’t need to self-isolate if they haven’t been instructed by public health to do so.
All positive point-of-care test results should be confirmed by a laboratory polymerase chain reaction or PCR test.
It can take up to 14 days to test positive after being exposed to COVID-19, so even if the results are negative, people should continue to self-monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if they are. expands.
They should also avoid visiting settings where vulnerable populations live, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters during this 14-day period.
For people who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before a possible exposure, public health recommends monitoring symptoms for 14 days after possible exposure and taking a COVID lab test if symptoms develop.
They don’t need to isolate themselves while waiting for their test results.
If they don’t have symptoms, they can get a quick test kit and don’t need to self-isolate.
What to do if you have a symptom
People who are concerned about having COVID-19 can take an online self-assessment test.
Public health said symptoms of the disease included fever above 38 ° C, new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, new onset of fatigue and severe pain. breathing difficulties.
In children, symptoms also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with any of these symptoms should stay home, call 811 or their doctor, and follow directions.
