N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 13 new cases, province has no strategy to increase vaccination rate

Dr. Jennifer Russell says New Brunswick has seen a "levelling off" of vaccination numbers, especially in the age groups of 12 to 19 and 20 to 29, despite the increase in COVID-19 cases seen in the province since last weekend, including 13 new cases on Thursday.

"This population is quite vulnerable right now," Russell, the chief medical officer of health, told Information Morning Fredericton.

But she would not address a specific strategy to get more people vaccinated, beyond the province's efforts to encourage people through social media.

"Vaccination is the best protection and with [the] recent number of COVID-19 cases, the value of being completely vaccinated becomes more clear every day," Russell said in a statement.

Of the 77 cases confirmed since July 1, 68 of them, or 88 per cent, were not "fully immunized," meaning they hadn't received two doses, or they became infected before their second dose took full effect.

"Getting vaccinated will not only reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 and of being seriously ill, it will also help to protect your family, friends and our health-care system," Russell said.

Regional health authority vaccination clinics and clinics in pharmacies will continue, but mobile, or pop-up clinics, have been stopped, she said.

Hospitalization rates are what the province is focusing on right now, she said. No one is in hospital with the respiratory disease as of Thursday.

The 44 new COVID-19 cases that have been reported in New Brunswick since last Saturday when the province entered the green phase without any restrictions, such as masks, haven't come as a surprise to Public Health, said Russell.

Officials were expecting to see increasing numbers, but based on modelling, this shouldn't translate into higher numbers of people hospitalized or in need of intensive care, she said.

"Except for those who are unvaccinated."

According to the Public Health dashboard, 68.6 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated, up from 68.2 on Wednesday, and 82.5 per cent of the eligible population has had at least one dose, up from 82.4.

The New Brunswick Medical Society has called for vaccinations to be mandatory for all health-care workers.

It could not say how many of the province's more than 2,000 physicians have been fully vaccinated.

The Vitalité Health Network said Thursday that 82 per cent of its physicians and staff have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

As of July 21, 82 per cent of the Horizon Health Network's staff had received one dose of a vaccine, while 74 per cent were fully vaccinated.

The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurse Association has also called for mandatory vaccinations for health-care workers, citing mounting concerns over the delta variant of the coronavirus, which was first seen in India, and the dropping of vaccination rates across Canada.

But according to Russell, "a lot of first dosers" in the general population went to pop-up clinics across the province recently, even on the New Brunswick Day holiday on Monday.

"We do expect that, over the course of the next four weeks, hopefully this population [of first-dosers] will get their second dose."

Russell said it's really now up to the public to "roll up their sleeves and get that done."

Anyone 12 or older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and anyone who has received a first dose can get a second dose after 28 days.

A list of upcoming walk-in clinics 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.

51 active cases

The 13 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Thursday are spread over three zones. There are now active cases in all seven health zones across the province.

Here is a breakdown of the new cases:

Moncton region, Zone 1, nine cases:

• All of the individuals are 20 to 29

Eight of the cases are under investigation, and the other is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Bathurst region, Zone 6, two cases:

• A person 20 to 29
• A person 40 to 49

Both cases are under investigation.

Miramichi region, Zone 7, two cases:

• Both people are 20 to 29

Both cases are under investigation.

The province's active case count now stands at 51, and 36 are in the Moncton region.

A total of 258 people, including the infected people and their direct contacts, were self-isolating as of Wednesday. The isolation period has dropped to 10 days from 14.

New Brunswick has had 2,409 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 2,311 recoveries so far and 46 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 384,250 COVID tests have been conducted, including 1,103 on Wednesday.

Border, airport delays expected to begin Friday

Delays at border crossings and airports in New Brunswick and across the country are expected to begin Friday at 7 a.m. AT, when about 8,500 Canada Border Services Agency workers are set to take part in a work-to-rule strike.

The workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), will perform only the minimum amount of work required by their contracts.

It comes just as Canada is about to reopen the border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents for non-essential purposes Monday.

The job action could also slow down commercial traffic at the border and ports of entry, hit international mail and parcel deliveries from Canada Post and other major shipping companies, and disrupt the collection of duties and taxes on goods entering Canada, according to the unions.

The CBSA has said it will "respond quickly to any job action" to ensure the border remains safe and open to legitimate travellers and goods.

The agency also noted that 90 per cent of border agents have been identified as essential workers.

Their essential services agreement permits 2,600 members to take full strike action, while essential workers can take work-to-rule actions in their workplace.

Members voted to strike in late July. The unions say they are seeking better protection against harassment and discrimination, changes to what they call the CBSA's "toxic workplace culture" and better wage parity with other law enforcement agencies.

Reopening plan for schools expected within weeks

Public Health is working with the Department of Education on a reopening plan for schools, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. She expects it will be made public within the next week or two, she told CBC's Information Morning Moncton.

Russell declined to divulge any details.

The incoming president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association said teachers hope to receive guidance soon from the province about what school will look like in September.

Connie Keating says the pandemic has taught some valuable lessons for the school system.

"We saw the benefits of reducing class size, for example, and we moved to smaller class sizes in the primary grades," she said. "It made a difference."

Keating, who was teaching in Petitcodiac during the pandemic, says some long-standing issues, such as investments in technology, have also been addressed over the past 18 months.

"It is unfortunate it took a pandemic to do so. But again, it was a silver lining."

Survey shows long-term care home hesitancy

A recent national Angus Reid survey shows a growing hesitancy toward long-term care homes.

Four out of five Canadians said the pandemic fundamentally altered the way they view long-term care homes.

And almost half of respondents said they would do everything possible to avoid putting themselves, or loved ones, into long-term care.

The survey comes after months of the pandemic, which severely impacted long-term care residents.

Laura Tamblyn Watts, the CEO of CanAge, a non-partisan seniors' advocacy organization, says the pandemic only worsened issues that were already prevalent in the industry.

"We're really concerned about both the quality of care or the lack of care due to staffing shortages, as well as the type of living environment," she said.

"We still in many places have double, triple and even ward rooms of four people, shared toilets, sometimes up to 25 people sharing a shower room, bathing happening once or maybe even once every two weeks."

Michael Keating, director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, says the experience in New Brunswick wasn't as severe as in some other provinces, such as Quebec or Ontario.

But issues such as shortages of staff and funding were exacerbated by the pandemic.

"We knew in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that this was going to happen, that our population was going to age, and these numbers are predictable with respect to some types of diseases. So we're playing catch up, having planned and if you look at some of the Scandinavian countries, you'll see that their investment is greater, but that requires more significant government investment."

Keating says dedicated funding and national standards are needed to improve long-term care.

A total of 1,503 people were surveyed, including 153 in the Atlantic region.

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, and has 15 active cases, including one person in intensive care.

Newfoundland and Labrador no longer updates case numbers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As of Wednesday, the province had six active cases, including two people being treated in hospital.

Prince Edward Island announced one new case on Thursday, putting the province's active case count at four.

New possible exposures

New possible exposures to the coronavirus in the three zones have been added to the government's website:

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• 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 29 between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. – Captain Dan's, 50 Pointe Du Chêne Rd., Shediac
• 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
• July 24 between 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m., – Tandorri Zaika, 196 Robinson St., Moncton
• July 25 between 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. – Mama's Pizza, 806 Main St., Moncton
• 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 24 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., July 27 between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.– GoodLife Fitness, 555 Dieppe Blvd., Dieppe

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• July 31 between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.– Montana's Restaurant, 51 Depot Court

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• 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

Previous possible exposures

Public Health has 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.
• July 19 – WestJet Flight 3461 – from Ottawa to Toronto, departed at 10:00 a.m. 
• July 19 – WestJet Flight 3404 – from Toronto to Fredericton, departed at 3:40 p.m. 

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• July 23 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., July 25 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., July 28 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 29 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and July 30 between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Tony's Bistro & Patisserie, 137 McLaughlin Rd., 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 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 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 22 between 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. – Gusto's Italian Grill and Bar, 130 Westmorland Dr., Moncton
• July 22 between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Starbucks, 361 Champlain St., Dieppe

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• 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.

People who may have been exposed to the virus at the growing list of possible locations across the province are now being urged to request a COVID-19 test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.

Public Health's advice on the website for people who have been at any of the locations at the dates and times specified has been to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the potential exposure and, only if any symptoms develop, to immediately self-isolate and book a test.

But the most recent news releases issued by the province indicate "anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure" should get tested.

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.