N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 40 new cases, outbreaks at Moncton region nursing home and daycare

New Brunswick has 40 new cases of COVID-19, most of which are part of a growing cluster in the Moncton region, which now also has confirmed outbreaks at a nursing home and a daycare, Public Health announced Monday.

The new cases are from Saturday through Monday, and include 32 in the Moncton region, Zone 1, five in the Fredericton region, Zone 3 and three in the Miramichi region, Zone 7.

In the past two weeks, the number of active cases across the province has jumped from eight to 105.

Sixteen days ago, the province moved to the green phase of COVID-19 recovery and lifted all restrictions.

There are no hospitalizations because of the respiratory disease. There was one hospitalization over the weekend, but the person has been discharged, Public Health said in a news release.

In March, the province saw its active case count increase from 36 to 110 within two weeks, according to Ray Harris, a data analyst in Fredericton who maintains a COVID-19 tracking website. Hospitalizations increased from one to five, he observed.

In January, active cases went from 24 to 246 within two weeks. Hospitalizations went from one to four.

Public Health also issued several new potential COVID-19 exposure notices Monday for three of the province's seven health zones — the Moncton region, Zone 1, the Saint John region, Zone 2, and Fredericton region, Zone 3. The three major cities held a wide range of events two weeks ago to mark New Brunswick Day.

The notification locations range from churches and garages to grocery stores and restaurants.

Public Health continues to see a "high number" of COVID-19 cases among people who are not fully vaccinated, according to the news release. Since July 1, the province has confirmed 198 cases, and 171 — or 86 per cent — were not fully vaccinated.

"The need for people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible is evident," Dr. Cristin Muecke, deputy chief medical officer of health, said in a statement.

"While you can still contract COVID-19 when vaccinated, the risk is proven to be far lower. Getting vaccinated protects you, the people you love and your community."

A total of 71.4 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated, up from 70.9 per cent on Friday, while 83.4 per cent had received at least one dose, up from 83.2.

2 cases at nursing home

Public Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Forest Dale Home, a 50-bed nursing home in Riverside-Albert after an employee and a resident both recently tested positive.

The provincial rapid outbreak management team was partially activated Friday, and a mass testing of residents and employees was conducted. No results have been released.

Another round of testing is taking place Monday and will be followed by another round of testing later this week, Public Health said.

4 cases at daycare

Owl and Friends Learning Centre in Moncton will remain closed until Aug. 24 because of a COVID-19 outbreak, Public Health said Monday.

Four cases of COVID-19 have recently been confirmed at the daycare, according to a news release.

No information about contact tracing, isolation or testing was provided.

16 cases under investigation

Here is a breakdown of the new cases:

Moncton region, Zone 1, 32 cases:

The 32 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• Eight people 19 or under
• Five people 20 to 29
• Six people 30 to 39
• Four people 40 to 49
• Six people 50 to 59
• Two people 60 to 69
• A person 70 to 79

Sixteen of the cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, 13 are under investigation and three cases are travel-related.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, five cases:

• A person 19 or under
• A person 20 to 29
• A person 50 to 59
• Two people 60 to 69

Four of the cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and the other is under investigation.

Miramichi region, Zone 7, three cases:

• Two people 50 to 59
• A person 60 to 69

Two of the cases are under investigation and one case is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

New Brunswick has had 2,530 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic. There have been 2,378 recoveries so far and 46 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 393,080 COVID tests have been conducted, including 1,771 since Friday.

New possible exposure notices

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

• Aug. 7 – Air Canada Flight 8904 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 8:03 p.m.

Public Health has also identified the following locations where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

Moncton region:

• Aug. 11 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Costco, 140 Granite Drive, Moncton
• Aug. 9, 10, and 13 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Deware's Service Centre, 402 Elmwood Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 9, 10, and 11 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. – Corn Crib, 337 Mountain Dr., Moncton
• Aug. 8 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - Apostolic Lighthouse Church, 332 Bayley Rd, Riverview
• Aug. 7 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Old Triangle Irish Alehouse, 751 Main St., Moncton
• Aug. 5 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Costco, 140 Granite Dr, Moncton
• Aug. 1 between 1 p.m and 3 p.m. - Montana's, 225 Mapleton Rd., Moncton
• Aug. 1 between 6:30 p.m.  and 8:30 p.m. - Apostolic Lighthouse Church, 332 Bayley Rd, Riverview

Saint John region:

• Aug. 2 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – JJ's Restaurant, 40941 Rte. 1, Sussex

Fredericton region:

• Aug. 12 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Costco Gas Bar and Costco Store, 25 Wayne Squibb Blvd., Fredericton
• Aug. 12 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. – Sobeys, 1180 Prospect St., Fredericton
• Aug. 11 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Aug. 12 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore, 350 Connell St., Woodstock
• Aug. 10 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Coast Tire, 283 Connell St., Woodstock
• Aug. 9 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tim Horton's, 667 Main St., Woodstock
• Aug. 8 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. - Grafton Baptist Church, 48 Saunders St., Grafton

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure is being 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.

Online immunization records

Online access to COVID-19 immunization records is now available to New Brunswickers through MyHealthNB, Public Health announced Monday.

A "soft launch" of this service occurred earlier this month and has been going "just great," said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane, although there is no way to know how many people have accessed their records online.

Anyone with a valid MyHealthNB account because of a COVID-19 test has been able to retrieve their record since Aug. 5, he said.

The site was originally created to enable those eligible to obtain faster access to their test results.

People who have MyHealthNB accounts because of previous COVID-19 tests can now log in to access their COVID-19 immunization records.

Anyone vaccinated since July 12 would have received instructions to register for a MyHealthNB account and are encouraged to log in to activate their account.

People who were vaccinated before July 12 and do not have a MyHealthNB account can receive a registration code by making an appointment through a Horizon or Vitalité vaccination clinic, said Macfarlane. At the appointment, staff will verify their identity and Medicare number, then provide them with a registration code.

There will be dedicated queues for these individuals at the clinics to ensure a "smooth and efficient" process, he said, so people will be in and out within minutes.

They can then register at myhealth.gnb.ca using their Medicare number and registration code if they wish to access their COVID-19 immunization record online.

"New Brunswickers must remember that the paper record of immunization provided to you following vaccination is and will continue to be an official record," Macfarlane said.

They should store it in a safe place, keep a copy and take a picture of it.

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, putting the province's active case count at 24.

Newfoundland and Labrador has three new cases and nine active cases.

Prince Edward Island reported two new cases and its active caseload stands at seven.

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 flight:

• Aug. 11 – Air Canada Flight 8773 – from Montreal to Saint John, which departed at 9:14 a.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:

• Aug. 12 between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Rd.

• Aug. 12 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – H&M, 477 Paul St., Dieppe

• Aug. 11 between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre diagnostic imaging waiting room, 330 University Ave.

• Aug. 10 between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. – Chris Rock Tavern, 48 Albert St.

• Aug. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Oulton College, 55 Lutz St.

• Aug. 7 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. – Navigators Pub, 190 Robinson Court

• Aug. 7 between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., Aug. 8 between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. – Wise Guys Pub, 176 Robinson St.

The province also shared possible sites of COVID-19 exposure in the Saint John, Fredericton, and Miramichi regions

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Aug. 4 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore, 44 Lower Cove Rd., Sussex

• August 4 and 5 – Three Bears Campground, 12049 Rte. 114, Penobsquis

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Aug. 6 between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Sobeys, 370 Connell Rd, Woodstock

• Aug. 7 between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. – Dolan's Pub, 349 King St

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• Aug. 6 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Ultramar Truck Stop, 11365 Rte 11, Napan

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.