New Brunswick reported six new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday afternoon.
Just one of the cases is in Zone 1, which includes Sackville and Tantramar. The case is in someone in their 70’s and is connected to the outbreak at Manoir Notre Dame.
The other five cases are in Zone 5, the Campbellton region, including one case in a long term care home, and one in a high school.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell started her address Tuesday afternoon by repeatedly pleading for New Brunswickers to adopt new mask-wearing rules that came into effect last Friday and Saturday.
Russell also stressed that mask wearing is just one of the methods being used to slow the spread, and it must be done in conjunction with other personal measures, like physical distancing, hand and surface washing, and staying home when sick, as well as public measures like border restrictions and testing.
Under orange level restrictions currently in place in Sackville, masks must be worn in all public places, both inside and outside.
Russell said Monday that outdoor public spaces included “parks, playgrounds, markets, dog parks, etc.” or “anywhere the public may congregate” outside of a private single household yard.
Russell added that when walking with members of your bubble in areas that are not crowded, such as trails or beaches, masks are not required.
If in doubt, she said, wear a mask.
NEW OUTBREAK IN CAMPBELLTON
A single case in Campbellton is being classified as a new outbreak, said Russell, because it has occurred in a vulnerable setting. The Manoir de la Sagesse in Campbellton is a 45 bed adult residential facility which uses shared rooms. Russell said all residents and staff were being tested today, and would continue to be tested over the next while to catch incubating cases.
Russell asked people to be forthright with public health contact tracers if they are contacted. She said that honesty with contact tracers could help public health more quickly rule out community transmission, if possible. It takes just three unlinked cases of community transmission in a six-day period to push a zone into red level restrictions, she said.
“We can’t really afford to cut any corners or take any chances,” said Russell. “We have to protect our human resources and hospital services.”
PROVINCE WON’T GIVE DETAILS ABOUT SOURCE OF MONCTON OUTBREAK
Both Russell and Education minister Dominic Cardy advised New Brunswickers to get their information from the government of New Brunswick website, saying complete and accurate information could be found there.
Cardy in particular seemed concerned that rumours were receiving undue coverage even in mainstream media, alluding to a rumour that, “turned into an interview on the radio.”
However, officials have set limits on how much information they are sharing.
When asked about the source of the Manoir Notre Dame outbreak in Moncton, and whether the first case came from someone who failed to self-isolate or who was exempt from self-isolating, Russell refused to answer, saying she did not want to point fingers.
Russell said that in some cases, travellers who return can be self-isolating, “but not necessarily be self-isolating completely appropriately.”
“There are many different combinations and permutations here,” said Russell.
“There are challenges that are faced by each and every individual in this province that are different based on where they are at, with respect to vulnerable populations, with respect to the hardships that certain people might face, with respect to their work environment,” said Russell.
“They might not have benefits to be able to stay home when they are unwell. They might not have the appropriate means, again, for whatever reason. So I think in this case, we have to be supportive. And we have to assume responsibility for ourselves as individuals in terms of what we can do to contribute to minimizing the risks of COVID-19 in our province.
