N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 17 new cases, minister who travelled outside N.B. self-isolating

Seventeen new cases of COVID-19 were reported in New Brunswickon Monday, 12 of them in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and two new potential public exposure warnings have been issued.

Included in the Public Health release announcing the cases was a reminder from Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell for New Brunswickers to be alert to any symptoms and to stay home and get tested if any symptoms arise, "even mild symptoms."

The 17 cases bring the total number announced since New Year's Day to 36.

The 12 new cases in the Moncton region are:

• two people 19 orunder;
• four people 20 to 29;
• two people 30 to 39;
• one person40 to 49;
• one person 50 to 59;
• one person 60 to 69, and
• one person 80 to 89.

The three cases in the Fredericton region, or Zone 3, are:

• one person 20 to 29 and
• two people 60 to 69.

The two cases in Campbellton region, or Zone 5, are:

• one person 20 to 29 and
• one person 70 to 79.

All 17people are self-isolating and their cases are under investigation.

"Even with mild symptoms, do not go to work or attend social or family get-togethers," Russell said in the Public Health release."Do not rely on known travel history of yourself and others to dismiss symptoms as being COVID-19-related. Remember, if you have travelled you must self-isolate for a full 14 days."

There are now 55 active cases in New Brunswick, with the totalnumber of confirmed cases at 635 and 570 recovered. Nine people have died from COVID-19. Another person who tested positive also died but not as a result of COVID-19.

One patient is hospitalized and is in an intensive care unit. As of Monday, 154,556 tests have been conducted, including 432 since Sunday's report.

Natural resources minister left New Brunswick over the holidays

No Progressive Conservative MLAs travelled outside the Atlantic region during the holidays, but a cabinet minister went to Nova Scotia, despite the advice of the chief medical officer of health.

Mike Holland, the minister of natural resources and energy development, was in rural Nova Scotia to visit his significant other, said Nicolle Carlin, director of communications in the Premier's Office.

Holland is now home and self-isolating for 14 days,Carlin said in a statement, adding that he will not be disciplined because "travel was not banned and he followed all of the required protocol."

In an interview with CBC News later,Holland said he scrupulously adhered to Public Health guidelines about travel.

"I looked at the process of protocols and Public Health clearly outlined the fact that if you are outside the province, then there's a series of steps you have to take, so I took that very seriously," Holland said.

He said he is following "a very comprehensive," Public Health-compliant plan,"and quite honestly, I do consider [my partner] essential."

Before Christmas, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, advised against non-essential travel to or from New Brunswick over the holidays.

"There's not really a safe place you can travel from that we wouldn't be concerned about you arriving here," Russell said on Dec. 19.

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News of Holland's Nova Scotia travelcomes amid a wave of resignations and demotions of federal and provincial politicians elsewhere who travelled outside Canada over the holidays as COVID-19 cases continueto climb in parts of the country.

At the same time, Canadians were urged to stay home and limit holiday celebrations to members of their households.

The federal government has advised Canadians throughout the pandemic to avoid all non-essential travel and introduced new testing requirements this week for those planning to travel by air.

Carlin said another MLA travelled to Maine this year to pick up mail, but that was before that person was elected to the legislature.

Update on vaccines, 'concerning' test numbers

New Brunswick's vaccine rollout will continue this week with clinics on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Department of Health said Monday.

Shawn Berry, a spokesperson for the department, told CBC News that vaccination clinics are being set up at 20 long-term care facilities over the next two days at different locations throughout the province.

Berry said the province received 2,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week. Of those, 1,200 doses will be administered Tuesday and Wednesday, with the other 1,200 doses retained as the second dose for those individuals, Berry said in an email.

"To date, we have received 5,850 doses of Pfizer vaccine and have administered 2,905 doses," Berry said.

An additional 2,925 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are expected to arrive this week,with half of those to be administered to health-care workers at a clinic in Moncton later this week.

Both the Moderna and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines require two shots: a priming dose, followed by a booster shot.

Jennifer Russell says post-holiday cases are very concerning

4 years ago

Duration 4:06

The provinces chief medical officer says people need to get tested when they have mild symptoms after New Brunswick saw a spike in cases from holiday gatherings.

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell also spoke about vaccines in an interview withCBC News on Monday and said the province is getting them "into people's arms as quickly as we possibly can."

She praised the "extraordinary" vaccine plan rollout and said the only thing preventing speedier delivery is the availability of the vaccine doses themselves.

"If we had everybody lined up today and we had all the vaccines ready to go, we could vaccinate this whole province within 10 weeks," Russell said.

Russell also said she's concerned about the lower numbers of people getting tested in recent days.

On Monday, Public Health numbers showed just 432 had been conducted since Sunday's reported numbers.

While Russell noted she thinks the majority of New Brunswickers are following Public Health guidelines, "the problem with this virus is it only takes a few people" who don't follow them to lead to a spike in cases.

"So I'm disappointed ... I know that people have not been getting tested as much as they need to," Russell said. "Our testing numbers have dropped over the holiday season. That's not a good thing because it means we could be missing some cases."

Two public exposure notifications issued

Public Health has identified potential public exposure at the following locations:

• Moncton Squash Club, 71 Essex St.,on Dec. 29, 30 and 31 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Bo Diddley's Lounge, 295 Collishaw St., on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (285 Collishaw St., Moncton).

If you were at any of these locations, and you have no symptoms of COVID-19, self-monitor and follow all Public Health guidelines. If you are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 and do not need to talk to a nurse, complete the self-assessment and get tested.

Passenger recalls quarantine on cruise in COVID's early days

Dave Strang remembers exactly where he was when he first heard about the novel coronavirus.

He and his wife Patricia were in the middle of the ocean,stuck aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

They were among the 3,700 passengers and crew who were strandedstarting Feb. 3 because of COVID-19.

"We weren't even allowed in ports, we were still out at sea," the Fredericton man said Monday in an interview with Information Morning Fredericton.

Just beforeCOVID became an everyday word, the couple began almostfour weeks in quarantine, first on their cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan,and then in Trenton, Ont., before they finally madeit home.

When news of COVID-19first hit their ship,it wasn't a big deal.

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The night before, passengershad been enjoying a grand soiree dressing up, eating a fancy dinnerand getting their photos taken with family, friends and crew members.

Thenthe cruise announced the next lag of the trip would be cancelled. The Strangs were supposed to vacation on board another eight days.

"We didn't know what to do at that point."

More than 700 passengers on the ship contracted the virus and at least six people died.

The Strangs were quarantined in their room on the ship for 12 days.

Dave Strang remembers their temperatures were takenfrequently, and the captain came over the intercom every day, reporting the number of COVID-19 cases.

Canadians quarantined on cruise ship amid coronavirus outbreak

5 years ago

Duration 2:07

More than 250 Canadians have been quarantined in their cabins on a cruise ship near Japan. Two Canadians on board are among the 20 passengers who have tested positive for coronavirus.

It's been almost a year since they were stranded, and Strang said he's still cautious.

He doesn't visit stores in the same way. He goes out, masked, buys what he needs and returns home.

"I don't go wandering through stores like I used to," he said. "I just go for the necessities [and] stay close to home."

But the Strangs won't let what happened on the Diamond Princessdeter them from another vacation.

They have another cruise booked for February 2022 in the Caribbean thanks to a refund from the cruise line.

"Hopefully, we'll have a vaccine at that point."

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.