N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Public Health reports 2 new cases, Shannex Saint John reports 1

Public Health has announced two new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Sunday.

Both cases are in the Fredericton region (Zone 3) and affect individuals in their 60s.

Both cases are self-isolating and under investigation.

The total number of active cases has dropped to 65 from 72. Three people are hospital with two in intensive care.

The province has reported 557 cases during the pandemic with 484 recoveries.

Public Health conducted 1,253 COVID-19 tests on Saturday, bringing the testing total to 139,374.

There have been eight deaths from COVID-19 so far in the province during the pandemic.

Resident dies at Parkland Saint John

A licensed long-term care home in Saint John that's the site of a COVID-19 outbreak has confirmed a resident has died, but says the death is not related to COVID-19.

Shannex Parkland Saint John announced the death of the resident Sunday on its website, saying the death occurred in the facility's cohorting area.

"We have established a cohorting area located inside Tucker Hall where residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are being cared for by team members dedicated to caring only for residents in this area," said Shannex spokesperson Isabelle Landry.

"This allows us to ensure the safety of other residents and team members at Tucker Hall. The cohorting area is equipped with everything needed to isolate residents who test positive for COVID-19 and has a separate entrance and exit to control the flow of people and supplies into and out of the area."

The facility also announced another staff member is positive for COVID-19 after testing conducted on Friday.

An outbreak at the home has been linked to 19 cases — 11 residents, seven Shannex employees and one non-Shannex employee. 

Edmundston school cancels in-person classes for week

Saint Mary's Academy in Edmundston will not hold in-person classes this week after a positive test for COVID-19 at the school last Thursday.

In-class learning was cancelled last Friday to do contact tracing.

In a letter to parents Sunday, Anglophone School District West superintendent David McTimoney said the decision has been made to move to learning from home for the week.

"I know that the staff at SMA have been preparing for this potential and I have confidence in their ability to continue with their teaching throughout this coming week," he said.

'Never say never'

After a quiet Saturday as far as COVID-19 is concerned, the Edmundston region entered its second day in the orange phase.

New Brunswick reported one new case on Saturday, but it was not in the Edmundston zone.

Zone 4 was moved into orange-level restrictions because of increased cases and an outbreak at the Edmundston Regional Hospital.

Public Health said seven of the cases are employees at the hospital and 24 workers are self-isolating. It warns the hospital's ability to provide service could be impacted if case numbers were to rise.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said testing has increased at the hospital with a goal to do testing every two or three days.

There have been 253 tests performed so far and all have come back negative, she said.

Russell also said the outbreak in Edmundston is actually two clusters. Both are related to travel.

She said it remains possible the region could return to yellow-level restrictions in time for Christmas.

"Never say never," she said. "I think all we can do is do our best at this point in time and see how things go."

Clinics start soon

While it will be a while before most New Brunswickers have an opportunity to get a vaccine, a few have already been sent invitations.

Dr. Hanif Chatur, an emergency room doctor at Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, N.B., said the province has sent him an email, saying he's on a list for vaccination at the Miramichi Regional Hospital starting Dec. 19.

On Sunday, Russell said Public Health has received shipping conformation for the vaccines and clinics will begin soon.

"I don't have the exact time and all the exact details, but it's on its way and our first clinics will be set up to start for this coming weekend," she said.

Chatur said he hopes having a doctor willing to get the vaccine will ease some concerns.

"There's a level of vaccine hesitancy out there, and I appreciate that, but certainly I have a tremendous amount of confidence in the science and the scientists," he said.

Exposure notification

Public Health added three new flights Friday to its list of possible exposures. A person who has tested positive may have been infectious while travelling on Dec. 4 on the following flights:

• Air Canada Flight 8372 from Fort McMurray to Calgary.
• Air Canada Flight 144 from Calgary to Toronto.
• Air Canada Flight 8918 from Toronto to Moncton.

Anyone who travelled on these flights should "continue to follow the directives given to them during the travel registration process and when they entered New Brunswick," the advisory said.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online. 

Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:

• A fever above 38 C.

• A new cough or worsening chronic cough.

• Sore throat.

• Runny nose.

• Headache.

• New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.

• 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 Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.

• Describe symptoms and travel history.

• Follow instructions.