On Wednesday, the province reported nine new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick and one new case in a New Brunswicker outside the province.
For the second day in a row, Zone 1 has six of those new cases. Two people 19 or under, three people in their 20s, and one person in their 90s have tested positive for COVID-19 in Zone 1. All six cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The Fredericton region also has three new cases, all linked to previous cases. At a briefing Wednesday, Dr. Jennifer Russell shared concerning news about a single case of community transmission in the Fredericton region.
“This is an infection that we cannot trace to other cases in the area. Now this is concerning, because to date we have been able to link virtually all the active cases in that zone,” said Russell. “However, we do believe that this case is a different strain and not related to the other cases of COVID-19 now present in the Fredericton area.”
New Brunswick now has 134 active cases of COVID-19, and there are 27 active cases in Zone 1.
NEW POTENTIAL PUBLIC EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS
Public Health also identified new potential public exposures on Wednesday. The Zone 1 notifications are as follows:
Moxie’s Grill and Bar, 10 Wyse St., Moncton, Friday, May 21 between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Tim Hortons, 170 St. George Blvd., Moncton, on Friday, May 21 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 23 between 8 a.m. and noon.
A&W, 6 Champlain St., Dieppe, on Friday, May 21 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Codiac Transpo City Bus #60, on Friday, May 21 between 7:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Codiac Transpo City Bus #51, on Friday, May 21 between 7:15 p.m. and 10 p.m.
ONE MORE CUMBERLAND CASE, BUT OTHERWISE ATLANTIC PROVINCES LOOKING UP
Nova Scotia reported 37 new cases on Wednesday. One of those was in the Cumberland Health Network, which includes Amherst. There are now 11 active cases in Cumberland, all reported within the past 7 days. There are 787 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia.
PEI has had no new cases to report since Friday, and still has 13 active cases of COVID-19, according to Public Health Canada.
Newfoundland had just four new cases to report on Wednesday, and all were traced to travel or previous cases. There are 93 active cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland as of Wednesday.
VACCINES FOR 12 AND OVER, SECOND DOSES OF AZ UP FOR GRABS
New Brunswick has opened up another age group to eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone 12 or older may now book an appointment to receive the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine at a pharmacy or Vitalité clinic. People 16 or older can book an appointment on their own, but those bweteen 12 and 15 will need parental consent. The next Vitalité clinic in Sackville is scheduled for Saturday June 5th.
At Wednesday’s briefing, Education minister Dominic Cardy explained why the vaccination of children would not be happening in schools. “Because the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine is the only one currently approved in Canada for use in children as young as 12, it presents a lot of logistical difficulties,” said Cardy. “It’s a vaccine that as of right now has to be stored at very, very cold temperatures. Transporting it is difficult. And of course we’ve got limited staff able to administer the vaccines.”
Cardy says the department looked at bussing school kids to vaccination clinics, but, “realized that every community across the province has so many different challenges, that that would again present a logistical challenge that would outweigh the benefits.”
Cardy said there was no plan to make a COVID-19 vaccine compulsory for attending school. He also pleaded for any parents not yet vaccinated to get a shot along with their kids, and held out the promise of a more normal school year in September. “We all want schools to be able to return in September, with the same openness for sports and activities, friendship and togetherness,” said Cardy. “An end to distancing, an end to masks, and to the restrictions that we’re all fed up with. And getting vaccinated is a step towards us achieving that goal.”
As of Wednesday’s report, just over 50% of the population of New Brunswick, 430,000 people, have received a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
While first shots have been the focus, second shots are also happening, and Russell said Wednesday that second dose clinics for all of New Brunswick nursing homes and special care homes would be completed later this week.
Just 4.6% of the population has received a second dose as of Wednesday.
Russell reminded New Brunswickers on Wednesday that there was still supply, however small, of Astra Zeneca vaccine available for second doses. “We still have a supply of AstraZeneca vaccines that will expire at the end of this month,” said Russell. “So if you are over the age of 55, and had this vaccine as your first dose, you can immediately receive a second shot from this supply.” Russell also pointed out that second doses of AstraZeneca will go to people whose first dose was at least eight weeks ago.