No link between Campbellton, Moncton outbreaks found so far

Public Health officials say there's no indication of a link between 13 cases of COVID-19 in the Campbellton region, including the province's first case at a school, and a largeroutbreak in the Moncton region at a special care home.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said contact tracing is still underway.

Russell saidone of the 13 cases is travel-related.

The first case was announced Thursday, while 12 more were confirmed Friday.

SugarloafSenior High School principal Michael O'Toolereported a positive case in amessageto parents and guardians posted on the school'sFacebook page Thursday at 9:30 p.m.

It isthe first reported school-related case of COVID-19 since New Brunswick schools reopened in September.

Classes at the school werecancelled for Friday.

None of the 13 cases in the region are peopleunder the age of 20.

'Orange' phase

Russelland Premier Blaine Higgs announced both the Campbellton region andthe Moncton region, where there are 21 active cases,willrevert to the orange phaseas of midnight.

Under that phase,daycares and kindergarten to Grade12 schools can remain open under strict guidance, with virtual learning to be used for at-risk populations. Day camps are allowed to operate.

The school's closure on Friday allowed time for cleaning andcontact tracing, O'Toolesaid.

It will also be closedOct. 13 and Oct. 14 to give teachers time to prepare to provide full-time online learning for students from Quebec who normally attend the school.

Zones 1, 5 move back to more restrictive orange phase

4 years ago

Duration 4:08

Premier Blaine Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell announced Moncton and Campbellton regions will move back to the orange level of the COVID-19 recovery plan.

O'Tooletold parents and guardians the school is working with Public Health toidentify any students and school staff who may have been exposed to thecoronavirus.

"We understand you may feel anxious over the coming days," O'Toolesaid. "Public Health officials will contact you if your child has been in close contact with the confirmed case and will tell you if your child needs to self-isolate."

He advised if there is no contact by Public Health, then students can continue to attend school.

"It is natural to want to know if your child may have been exposed to the virus. Public Health officials will inform those who are at risk of the next steps."

O'Toolesaid anyone experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 should call Tele-Care 811or register themonline for a test.

O'Toole said details and names won't be released to protect the privacy of students and school personnel. The principal asked that anyone involved be treated with kindness and respect, in person and on social media.

"Children and young people look to the adults in their lives to guide them on how to react to worrying and stressful events."

13 new COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick on Friday

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Duration 1:08

Dr. Jennifer Russell announced 13 new COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick on Friday.

Anglophone District North referred all questions about the case to Public Health and the Department of Education.

As a result of the government's decision to suspend the "bubble" with Quebec'sAvignon region whichallowednon-essential day trips by residents of Listuguj First Nation and Pointe--la-Croixinto New Brunswick about 103students who attended SugarloafSenior High School and three students who attend the French high school will now be on remote learning.

Students in kindergarten to Grade 8can continue to cross the border to attend school.

Listuguj high school students can't attend

O'Toole said the school, district and ListugujFirst Nation are working out the details of delivering technology devices and personal items.

"These details will be communicated as soon as they are available."

ChiefDarcy Graysaid this decision is going to behard on young people from theListugujcommunity who, ina normal year, playsports, areinvolved in clubs and committees and hang out on the weekends with their friends from high school.

"And all of that has been disrupted through COVID, through the bridge restrictions that have been in place for months. And school was providing a little bit of normalcy again so just as we were getting into a good rhythm."

Listuguj had expected the bubble to be closed because of rising case numbers in Quebec, but he didn't expect it to happen that quickly, adding it was hard to understand the reasoning at the time.

"For us, it's been a bit of a roller-coaster in dealing with this."

Gray said the First Nation plans touse a trainingcentre in thecommunity that he thinks canaccommodate the students because of the split schedules that will have 50 or sostudents attending on alternating days.

Mayor fearsrepercussions

Campbellton Mayor Stephanie Anglehart Paulinsaid she is worried about her city and the heath region, Zone 5, if there aremore cases.

"We're a small community. We've only gotwe've only got 25,000 in a 30-kilometreradius. These kids have been everywhere. You know, the principal at the school is the president of our Campbellton Tigers. So does that affect them?

"I feel the same way I did back in June when the manoir had their outbreak.It's aweird feeling."

Last spring, two residents of the Manoir-de-la-Vale in Atholvilledied during an outbreak of COVID-19 in that home.

"So for me, it's very serious. I can't have COVIDin my community for any of my residents because it's deadly."

Anglehart Paulinsaid she hopes everyone will stick together and keep doing their part to protect themselves. Shealso worries how Zone 5 will be treated by the rest of the province once again and the repercussions of it.