There were 12 new cases of COVID-19 in the province announced Wednesday.
Two of those new cases are in Zone 1. A person in their 30s and a person in their 40s both contracted the disease, and the origin of both cases is still under investigation. Zone 1 has 12 active case of COVID-19 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane recently told the Telegraph-Journal there was just one case of the UK variant confirmed in Zone 1. Macfarlane has also confirmed that cases related to Moncton High School and Mount Allison University are UK variant cases, leaving open the possibility that just one person with the UK variant is a member of both the Moncton High School and Mount Allison University communities. CHMA has requested clarification.
MASS TESTING IN EDMUNDSTON
The other 10 new cases reported in New Brunswick yesterday are all in the Edmundston region. Four of those cases are travel-related, three are connected to previous cases, and the origin of the other three is still under investigation. Zone 4 now has 33 active cases of COVID-19.
Testing across the province increased slightly yesterday, with 956 tests conducted (323 of those in Zone 1.)
On Thursday and Friday, public health will operate mass, drop-in testing clinics in Edmundston. People who are not showing symptoms or self-isolating can drop in to get tested over the course of the two days. The province says the mass testing is due to, “confirmed cases of the variant appearing in Zone 4.”
Macfarlane told the Telegraph Journal that just two cases of the variant have been identified in Zone 4, but that the province is waiting on test results for 4 more cases from that health zone.
PEOPLE 75 AND OVER, BORDER COMMUTERS NOW ELIGIBLE TO BOOK SHOTS AT PHARMACIES
Beginning on Wednesday, people 75 and older, rotational workers, regular cross-border commuters and truck drivers are eligible to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy. Local pharmacist Charles Beaver told CHMA that first responders 65 and older can also book a vaccination appointment at a pharmacy.
For people 75 and older, a caregiver or family member acting on their behalf can make the appointment.
Rotational workers, regular cross-border commuters and truck drivers must bring proof of eligibly to their appointment. That can include travel registration forms for cross-border commuters and rotational workers, and a Class 1 license for truck drivers.
Rotational workers or others who may be self-isolating are being asked to let pharmacies know this in advance, as specific processes will be needed to serve them.
The first shipment of Pfizer BioTech vaccine doses to Sackville pharmacies arrived on Tuesday morning. The Corner Drug Store received 120 doses and had used them all by end of day yesterday.
Beaver says that another 270 doses are expected to arrive next week.
HIGH SCHOOL WORKER VACCINATIONS IN SAINT JOHN TODAY, MONCTON REGION TOMORROW
Vaccination clinics for high school staff continue today in Saint John. Staff are being asked to travel to one of five different schools offering vaccinations in the region.
On Friday, high school staff in Tracadie and Moncton regions will be able to get vaccinated.
High school staff in Shediac, Bathurst, and Campbellton regions will get their shot at a shot on Monday.
Across the province, just under 3200 people received a shot since yesterday’s report.
The province still has 27,000 doses of vaccine on hand, waiting to be administered.
Just under 7% of the population, or 54,181 people, have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
