N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 2 deaths, 109 new cases, but none of them omicron variant

New Brunswick recorded two more COVID-related deaths and 109 new cases of the virus Tuesday, but no additional cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant have been confirmed yet, according to Public Health.

A person in their 70s in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and a person in their 60s in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, have died as a result of COVID-19, raising the pandemic death toll to 144.

The new cases are spread across all seven health zones.

"To date, no additional omicron cases have been confirmed in New Brunswick, however, we anticipate more to follow in the days and weeks ahead," Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane told CBC.

The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre's microbiology laboratory in Moncton will continue to test identified samples to determine their COVID-19 variant, Public Health said in a news release.

New Brunswick announced its first three confirmed cases of omicron on Monday — one in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and two in the Miramichi region, Zone 7.

They are linked to the recent outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said.

Four other cases in Zones 1 and 7 are directly linked to the confirmed three and presumed to be omicron, she told the COVID briefing.

Asked Tuesday for more information about the three confirmed cases, including their age range, vaccination status, condition, and whether they're in hospital, Macfarlane did not answer directly.

Instead, he said in an email, "At this time, omicron cases in the province will be accounted for daily, under the "new cases by health zone" category on the New Brunswick COVID-19 dashboard which publishes new cases under their respective zone locations."

On Monday, Russell told reporters she didn't have "exact details" on the status of the omicron cases, but said, "We'll keep you posted on that."

Asked for more information about how the confirmed cases are linked to the St. FX outbreak, Macfarlane replied, "There are several ways in which these cases could be linked, from travel to close contact with confirmed cases.

"Investigations related to contact tracing are ongoing for these cases at this time," he added.

None of the travellers isolating in New Brunswick after returning from countries with confirmed cases of omicron and under federal restrictions have tested positive for omicron or any other variant, Macfarlane said.

A total of 72 had been isolating, he said. Of those, only 10 remain in isolation.

"Given what we have seen in other provinces, we know this variant spreads quickly," Russell said in a statement Tuesday. "This is why it is so important that we take the steps now to help slow the spread while we get children vaccinated and boosters administered for those eligible."

Walk-in clinics have been added in "areas with high demand" for those eligible for a booster dose, Public Health said in a news release.

The Horizon Health Network is offering one in Saint John on Tuesday for anyone 50 or older, or in a current eligible group and due for a booster or third dose any time in December.

The clinic is being held at Exhibition Park on the city's east side until 6:30 p.m.

At least 50 people were lined up outside the clinic over the lunch hour.

On Wednesday, Horizon will hold a booster/third-dose walk-in clinic in Fredericton at Brookside Mall between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It's more important than ever for people who are eligible to get their shot to maximize the effectiveness of their vaccine protection now that omicron has arrived, Russell said Monday.

Premier Blaine Higgs also announced tighter COVID-19 "interim measures" Monday aimed at containing the spread of the virus and preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

These include the holiday break starting a week early for students in kindergarten to Grade 6, suspended sports and organized activities for children under 12, limiting household contacts to a steady 20, and reducing capacity at entertainment centres to 50 per cent.

A total of 9.6 per cent of the eligible population have received a booster dose, as of Tuesday, according to a news release.

A total of 82.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID, up from 82.3 per cent, and 88.7 per cent have received their first dose, up from 88.6.

A full list of upcoming walk-in clinics is available online.

People can also book an appointment online for a regional health authority clinic or through a participating pharmacy. 

A detailed list of those eligible for a booster dose is also available online.

Breakdown of cases

Forty-four people are in hospital with COVID-19, up from 41, including 14 in intensive care. Six of them are on ventilators.

Of those in hospital, 24 are over the age of 60 and one is under 19.

Six of the people hospitalized were initially admitted for other reasons and contracted COVID-19 due to outbreaks at Moncton Hospital, Saint John Regional Hospital or Miramichi Regional Hospital. Most of these people are exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms, Public Health said.

Here is a breakdown of the 109 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Tuesday:

• Moncton region, Zone 1 — 20 cases
• Saint John region, Zone 2 — 15 cases
• Fredericton region, Zone 3 — 46 cases
• Edmundston region, Zone 4 — five cases
• Campbellton region, Zone 5 — six cases
• Bathurst region, Zone 6 — six cases
• Miramichi region, Zone 7 — 11 cases

The province has stopped providing a further breakdown of the cases, including ages and origins, in its daily updates, directing people instead to its "enhanced" COVID-19 dashboard.

There are now 1,051 active cases of COVID-19 across the province.

New Brunswick has had 9,813 confirmed cases of the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, with 8,616 recoveries so far.

A total of 582,904 tests have been conducted to date, including 2,556 on Monday.

Potential 'perfect storm' for omicron variant, says expert

A viral immunologist says New Brunswick and the rest of Canada could be in for a "perfect storm" with the COVID-19 omicron variant.

Michael Grant, from Memorial University in Newfoundland, says there's already a surge in infections with the delta variant.

Now, the new, highly infectious omicron variant is "spreading readily, even through the vaccinated population.

"And it's happening just as we enter a period where people will travel more, gather more, mostly indoors, and mix with an increasing number of people," he said.

"Unfortunately, this is the exact recipe for the bleak predictions we've been hearing."

Omicron is at least 30 per cent more transmissible than the delta variant and has at least 40 mutations that allow it to spread more readily in people who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and in people who have had COVID-19, said Grant.

"That we know for sure."

It's still unclear whether it's more infectious because of something about the virus itself, or whether it's become able to evade the immunity that's present in the population, or a bit of both.

So far, it's infecting mostly young people who are partially immune and who have travelled, he said.

The worst impact could be once it gets into the more vulnerable population, such as the aged, those in long-term care homes, the immunocompromised, and those with co-morbidities.

"There's fear that we will see severe infections and the acute care units of hospitals will again be stretched to a maximum capacity."

There's some early evidence from Denmark that omicron may be just as virulent as the previous variants, said Grant.

There's also good evidence a booster dose increases immunity, he said.

6 new cases in schools, 4 in child-care facilities

Six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in schools and four in child-care facilities since Monday, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's website shows.

In the Saint John region, Zone 2, at least one positive case has been confirmed at Saint John High School, which was not previously affected.

The other schools where at least one new positive case has also been confirmed include:

• Northrop Frye School (Moncton region, Zone 1)
• Devon Middle School (Fredericton region, Zone 3)
• Meduxnekeag Consolidated School (Fredericton region, Zone 3)
• École François-Xavier-Daigle (Bathurst region, Zone 6)

The website does not indicate how many cases are at each school or whether the cases involve students, teachers or staff.

Seven schools had operational days Tuesday.

Fifty-nine schools are currently affected.

A total of 714 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 171 schools since the beginning of the school year.

All four of the child-care facilities with a new case of COVID-19 were not previously affected. They include:

• Somerset Preschool Centre (Saint John region, Zone 2)
• Garderie Mont Ste-Marie Inc. (Edmundston region, Zone 4)
• Garderie Mont Ste-Marie Inc. préscolaire & après-classe (Edmundston region, Zone 4)
• Garderie La Villa des Amis Ltée (Bathurst region, Zone 6)

The website does not indicate whether that case involves a child, staff member or volunteer.

There have been 121 early learning and child-care centres affected by COVID-19 since Sept. 7. The total number of cases has not been released.

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia announced 127 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, putting its active case count at 427. Six people are in hospital with the virus, including two in intensive care.

Prince Edward Island reported three cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and confirmed its first case of omicron, linked to an outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. The province now has 36 active cases.

Newfoundland and Labrador announced a three day total of 15 new cases Monday, and has 23 active cases.

Public exposure notices

Public Health has listed a number of possible public exposure notices Tuesday, including three arenas, two bus routes and a gym in the Saint John region, Zone 2, a restaurant in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, and the hospital emergency department and waiting room in the Edmundston region, Zone 4.

For the full list of public exposure notices, visit the provincial government's website.

People who have not been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure and who have symptoms should get a COVID lab test. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811 and must isolate while waiting for their test result.

People who are not fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms are now being instructed to pick up an At-Home COVID-19 Rapid Point of Care Test (Rapid POCT) screening kit. They do not need to isolate if they have not been directed by Public Health to do so.

All positive point-of-care test results must be confirmed with 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 results come back negative, people should continue to self-monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if any develop.

They should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters during that 14-day period.

For people who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID lab test if symptoms develop.

They do not need to isolate while they wait for their test results.

If they do not have symptoms, they can pick up a rapid test kit and do not need to isolate.

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.