N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Steady 15 likely to stay with Atlantic bubble

New Brunswickersshouldsoon get to see friends and familyfrom other Atlantic Canadian provinces, but the health minister says thatlikely won't mean expanding the number of close contacts people can have.

Asked whether the Atlantic bubble will result in expanding the province's "steady 15" rule for persons living in zones in the yellow phase, Dorothy Shephard said her government likely won't be doing that.

"I don't think that we're going to be encouraging [household bubbles]to be much bigger" said Shephard, speaking to reporters Friday.

"And we certainly want to discourage mass, you know, mass gatheringsbecause right now we're trying to get the population vaccinated."

On Thursday the four Atlantic premiers jointly announced that a bubble of unrestricted travel would be allowed across the four provinces as of April 19, so long as COVID-19 case numbers remain low in the region and outbreaks are contained.

Shephardemphasized the province's plan to provide at least one dose of vaccine to every adult New Brunswicker by the end of June, adding "an incredible amount of liberties" will follow from that.

"So I thinkwhat we're asking people for right now is patience to, let's keep our steady15,let's keep our household level with that steady 15."

High school teachers, some students to get vaccine early

Education Minister Dominic Cardyannounced Friday his plan to get high school students back in classrooms five days a week as of April 12.

That date, he said, is basedon the goal of vaccinating high school teachers as well students 16 or older with complex medical conditions bythen.

Shephardsaid the province's vaccine rollout is going well, adding that 6.4 per cent of the population has received shots.

As of Thursday, everyone 80 and over, regulated health professionals like dentists, physiotherapists and optometrists who have close contact with patients, and people with complex medical conditions becameeligible to receive vaccinations.

Shephard said 218 pharmacists throughout the province should now be ready to administer shots to persons80 and over, along with other groups listed in the current phase.

"We've got allied health professionals now being done,we have educators who were announced today that they can book their appointments," she said. "So it's going to move fast."

2 new cases reported

New Brunswick Public Health reportedtwo new cases of COVID-19 in the province on Friday.

Oneisan individual aged 60 to 69in Zone 4, the Edmundston region,and the other is someone 40 to 49 in Zone 6, the Bathurst region, Public Health said in a news release.

Both cases are under investigation and are self-isolating, according to the release.

There are currently 48 active cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, and one patient is in hospital. The number of tests done yesterday was 716, for a total of 243,732 tests conducted so far in the pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been1,486 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, with 30 deaths.Since Thursday, two persons have recovered for a total of 1,407 recoveries.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms cantake 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.