N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 8 new cases, people in their 20s have lowest vaccination rates

New Brunswick has eight new cases of COVID-19, all in the Moncton region, and people 20 to 29 years old have the lowest vaccination rates among the eligible population, the COVID-19 dashboard shows.

In this age group, 52 per cent are fully vaccinated, and 70.9 per cent had received at least one dose as of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the 12 to 19 age group, which only became eligible to be vaccinated afterward, at various stages in May, has surpassed this older group. A total of 53 per cent are double-dosed and 71.4 per cent have received one dose.

Of all New Brunswickers aged 12 and older, 69.9 per cent have now had two shots, up from 69.8 per cent on Monday, and 82.9 per cent have had one, up from 82.8.

On Monday, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer, urged young people to get vaccinated, noting that all but two of a growing cluster of cases in the Moncton region, Zone 1, involve people who are not fully immunized. Ninety per cent are under the age of 40.

"I am appealing directly to them today to book an appointment, if they have not already done so, and to encourage their friends to do the same," she said.

Public Health is working with partners to establish pop-up vaccination clinics targeting university students in the fall, according to Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

Additional details will be provided when the details, times and locations are confirmed, he said.

The University of Ottawa announced Tuesday that vaccination will be mandatory for most students, faculty, staff, and visitors, because of the "ongoing risks posed by COVID-19 and its dangerous variants."

As of Sept. 7, those groups will be required to have had at least one vaccine dose, with a second required by Oct. 15.

"Requiring mandatory vaccination will help in keeping our community safe and contribute to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and its variants," the university said in a news release.

The executive committee of the board of governors made the decision, based on the recommendation of the academic and administrative leadership, in alignment with the latest guidelines from Ottawa Public Health authorities, according to the university's website.

Other Ontario universities and colleges have previously mandated vaccines in some capacity.

Anyone who intends to access the campus will be required to attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status in advance by using the COVID-19 assessment tool as of Sept. 1, the release said.

"Those who remain unvaccinated and who must access campus will have to follow additional strict health protocols such as: frequent testing, wearing masks and other PPE [personal protective equipment], if necessary, as well as other possible measures to be announced at a later date."

Exceptions may be granted for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The University of Ottawa Students' Union supports the move to mandatory vaccines, especially in light of warnings that Canada could be seeing the start of a fourth wave of the pandemic.

New Brunswick Public Health is also working with partners, including pharmacies, to ensure clinics "are made available to all New Brunswickers, including more availability on weekends to help those who may have limited time or schedules," Macfarlane said in an emailed statement.

Several community vaccination clinics continue to accept walk-ins. A list is available online.

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.

64 active cases

The eight new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Moncton region, Zone 1, Tuesday and 10 more recoveries put the province's active case count at 64.

A detailed breakdown of the new cases was not provided, but here is the distribution of the active cases:

• Moncton region, Zone 1: 49
• Saint John region, Zone 2: 4
• Fredericton region, Zone 3: 1
• Edmundston region, Zone 4: 0
• Campbellton region, Zone 5: 1
• Bathurst region, Zone 6: 4
• Miramichi region, Zone 7: 5

No one is hospitalized with the respiratory disease.

New Brunswick has had 2,447 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic. There have been 2,336 recoveries so far and 46 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 388,315 COVID tests have been conducted, including 1,155 on Monday.

Province mulls vaccine passports

New Brunswick is studying the idea of COVID-19 passports, a Department of Health spokesperson said Tuesday.

"We continue to monitor COVID-19 in the province and to discuss this decision with our federal and provincial partners," Bruce Macfarlane said in an emailed statement.

Last month, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard told reporters the province had no plans to issue vaccine passports.

"To my knowledge, the province of New Brunswick is not considering a domestic passport for vaccines," she said on July 14.

"I believe that we have a pretty good relationship with our partners across this country. And I think that Canada is a leader in the world for getting our population vaccinated.

"I think that we can do without a vaccine passport on a domestic level."

Macfarlane said "it's an ever-evolving situation."

"We are always looking at what is going on around us and I can tell you no decision has been made one way or another."

On Monday, Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said a re-elected Liberal government would bring in a vaccine passport system.

Individuals could use the proposed "ScotiaPass" as proof they are fully vaccinated, and businesses and other organizations would also be able to use the system to limit access to their services, Rankin said.

The system would be brought in as a voluntary measure, but the provincial government could make its use mandatory, if necessary, he said.

Last week, Quebec Premier François Legault announced vaccine passports will soon be required to access non-essential services. Rising case numbers and the prospect of more hospitalizations and deaths have made a vaccine passport system necessary, he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the federal government will work with provinces to ensure there is an "internationally accepted proof of vaccination" for international travel but will leave domestic options up to the provincial governments.

P.E.I. sets higher vaccination target

Prince Edward Island has increased the percentage of the population it wants to see fully vaccinated, and the chief medical officer has recommended a shorter interval between doses to help get people vaccinated sooner.

The province had set a target to have 80 per cent of eligible residents double-dosed.

But Dr. Heather Morrison said Tuesday new national modelling suggests 83 per cent should be fully vaccinated in order to ensure the health-care system can handle the pressure of COVID-19.

"Currently, one-third of all new cases in Canada are attributed to the delta variant," she said.

As of Saturday, 89.4 per cent of Islanders had received one dose of vaccine, and 64.6 per cent had received two.

New Brunswick's goal is to get 75 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.

The original target was Aug. 2, but on July 23, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the province would move to the green phase and lift all restrictions on July 31 at 11:59 p.m., regardless of whether three-quarters of eligible New Brunswickers were double-dosed.

A high vaccination rate among eligible residents will help ensure the return to school in September is as normal as possible, said Morrison.

Since there is still no vaccine approved for children under 12, and children are mostly catching COVID-19 from adults, the best way to protect children is for adults to get vaccinated, she said.

Morrison now recommends a six-week interval between first and second doses, instead of eight weeks. She cited the increasing number of cases in the region and the country, the prediction of a fourth wave, and good availability of vaccines in the province.

New Brunswick Department of Health officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Airports on slow, steady climb to recovery

Airports in New Brunswick are on a slow but steady climb to recovery after months of pandemic regulations, according to a former airline executive.

Duncan Dee, who was the chief operating officer of Air Canada and served on the Canada Transportation Act review panel, says air passenger traffic at the province's airports is still down about 60 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.

Dee said the slower recovery could have to do with Canada's requirement of a PCR test to enter the country, which he describes as the most inconvenient and most expensive test available to detect COVID-19.

"Many countries, whether it's the U.S., the U.K., countries within the EU, accept the cheaper, quicker antigen test," he told CBC's Information Morning Saint John.

"An antigen test costs the traveller somewhere around $50 or $60. The PCR test could cost somewhere in the vicinity of $150 to $200."

Dee believes another factor is Canadians' views on travel in general.

He said Americans are more likely to travel domestically by air.

The federal government has been handing out money to airports in New Brunswick to help offset losses from the pandemic. The Saint John Airport and Fredericton International Airport each received $3.8 million, while $1.5 million was announced for the Bathurst Regional Airport.

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia reported one new case of COVID-19 Tuesday and has 17 active cases, with one person still being treated in intensive care.

Newfoundland and Labrador no longer reports case statistics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but as of Monday the province had six active cases. The province also ended its mandatory masks mandate Tuesday.

Prince Edward Island has two new cases, and six active cases.

New exposure notices

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

• Aug. 6 – WestJet Flight 4700 – from Toronto to Fredericton, departed at 7 a.m.
• Aug. 2 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 4 p.m.

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

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Aug. 7 between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Café Clementine Deli, 62 Elmwood Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 6 between 11 p.m. and midnight – Wize Guyz Pub, 176 Robinson St., Moncton
• Aug.6 between 11 p.m. and midnight – The 3rd Glass, 819 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 6 between 11 p.m. and midnight – Pizza Girls, 827 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 6 between 9:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. – Escape Room, 94 Lewisville Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 3 between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Planet Fitness, 80 Mapleton Rd., Moncton
• Aug.2 to Aug.7 – Zio's Pizza and Baci Italia, 214 Church 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

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.

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

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. 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

• Aug. 6 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Canadian Tire, 1380 Mountain Rd, Moncton

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

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

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

• Aug. 2 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – New Brunswick Day, Hillsborough Arena, 32 Mill Street, Hillsborough

• 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:

• Aug. 5 between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Hampton Brewing Company, 65 Robertson Rd, Hampton

• Aug. 5 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. – Princess Auto, 35 Depot Ct., Saint John

• Aug. 5 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Value Village, 212 McAllister Dr., Saint John

• Aug. 4 between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Mrs. Dunster's Bakery, 30 Leonard Dr., Sussex

• 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.