N.B. COVID-19 roundup: School rules updated as 57 more cases confirmed in province

New Brunswick has updated its COVID-19 public school guidelines, including banning unvaccinated students 12 and older from sports, and is asking parents to drive bused students, if possible, as case counts continue to spike across the province.

The changes, less than two weeks into the school year, come as Public Health announced 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, putting the total active case count at 370.

The province's previous peak for active cases was 348 on Jan. 25.

Seventeen people are hospitalized, including 10 in intensive care.

Nearly 20 of the new cases are among young people, with 12 of them being among "zero to nine-year-olds," Education Minister Dominic Cardy told reporters during a late afternoon news conference.

The Public Health news release indicates 19 of the cases involve people aged 19 or under.

New cases have also been confirmed at five schools in three zones.

Student-to-student transmission has now been confirmed, Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane told CBC News.

He was unable to immediately provide any numbers or details.

Twenty schools across health zones 1, 3, 4 and 5 have had about 80 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, according to a news release.

By comparison, the 2020-21 school year saw about 100 cases across 50 schools, in every one of the seven health zones.

Cardy apologized to parents of children under 12 who are too young to be vaccinated and have now contracted COVID, and warned other families are going to be "faced with horrors" in the weeks to come, "that have largely been brought on our province by a tiny number of people who refuse to do the right thing" and get vaccinated.

"Anything at all that we can do to protect your kids, I'll be front of the line to do that. And we're going to do our very best to make sure school is as safe as possible for your kids to to come back to and feel safe at once they're through this horrible disease," he said.

Rules take effect Monday

Starting Monday, schools must use classroom groupings, or "bubbles," to the greatest extent possible, and only classroom bubble-friendly field trips will be permitted for students in kindergarten to Grade 8.

Schools must look for ways to encourage greater physical distancing between groupings, such as adjusting lunch or recess schedules.

Physical education classes will be taught outdoors, weather permitting, and if taught indoors, students and staff must wear masks.

Assemblies will no longer be permitted.

Starting Wednesday, all students born in 2009 who don't have a medical exemption must be vaccinated to participate in indoor or outdoor extracurricular and intramural activities.

To reduce the risk of transmission on buses, and allow for greater physical distancing, families are asked to drive their children to school if they're able. 

Community use of schools remains restricted to youth activities. Students 12 and over must be vaccinated or have a medical exemption to participate.

"This is for today," said Cardy. "There will be consideration of more to come, as needed."

Asked whether, in retrospect, some of the new measures should have been brought in sooner, Cardy said he's "comfortable" with government's actions to date.

We are now seeing a threat that is real and present and dangerous for people across the province.- Dominic Cardy, education minister

"I've always been kind of on the aggressive side when it comes to dealing with COVID, but we had, over the course of the summer, hardly any cases. Very little legal justification for being able to maintain an emergency order that restricted people's constitutional rights," he said.

"We are now seeing a threat that is real and present and dangerous for people across the province," driven largely by the highly transmissible delta variant, which health officials are learning more about every day.

Cardy said he hopes to revisit his vaccination bill for schools that was defeated last year in a 22-20 free vote.

He suggested some MLAs who voted against it are having second thoughts.

The bill proposed eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions from the requirement for vaccinations for schoolchildren.

Cardy expects the new measures to remain in place until the vaccination rates in schools reaches the province's new goal of at least 90 per cent.

Roughly 80 per cent of the positive cases in New Brunswick are among unvaccinated people, he said.

And "most" of them are not too young to get vaccinated or unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons, but rather "made the wrong choice," he said.

"They made the choice to put whatever strange personal concerns they might have above the public health of their province and their own health and the health of their community."

In the Moncton region, a new case of COVID-19 was confirmed at West Riverview Elementary School.

In the Fredericton region, new cases have been confirmed at Andover Elementary School, Perth-Andover Middle School, and Southern Victoria High School, all located in Perth-Andover. The number of cases at each school was not provided.

In the Campbellton region, a new case was confirmed at Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton.

People who have been in close contact with a case will be notified directly by Public Health.

Under New Brunswick's Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses.

Masking 'strongly recommended' for everyone indoors

Of the 57 new COVID-19 cases reported Friday, 28 per cent involve people who are fully vaccinated, said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell.

These so-called breakthrough cases are expected while the virus continues to circulate, she said, and people who are vaccinated are far less likely to become seriously ill or hospitalized.

"However, the circumstances with this virus have changed and that is why we must change with it," she said in a statement without elaborating.

"Public Health is strongly recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public spaces."

Earlier this week, Russell said the province is on a trajectory to see 100 new cases a day, every day.

People who are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, should not assume they are fall allergies, said Russell; they should get tested.

Three weeks ago, New Brunswick's deputy chief medical officer of health had recommended people wear masks in indoor public spaces, due to a rise in cases after the province moved to the green phase of recovery and removed all restrictions.

Dr. Cristin Muecke said Public Health was concerned by the recent "surge," particularly the cases where the source of the infection couldn't be established.

"Given our current case numbers and the evidence of community spread, I urge all New Brunswickers to continue to wear a mask when they are in indoor public spaces," Muecke had said.

The province's active case count at that time was 157, less than half the current number.

Just six days later, when asked for guidance on mask use, Russell said people should make their own decisions.

"The choice is yours whether you choose to wear a mask in indoor public spaces," she had said. 

Premier Blaine Higgs said at the time he didn't believe mandatory masks were necessary and felt it would be unfair to penalize people who had gotten the vaccine. He wanted to focus on boosting vaccination rates, he said.

When pressed on the fact that even vaccinated people can pass the virus along to vulnerable people, including children who are too young to be vaccinated, he said anyone could choose to wear a mask.

Another mask mandate possible

New Brunswick could reintroduce mandatory masks in public spaces in the coming weeks, Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday.

He does not regret the decision to loosen COVID-19 restrictions on July 30, before the province reached its original goal to have 75 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated, he said.

But the all-party COVID cabinet committee was being recalled Friday to hear an update from Public Health and recommendations on next steps.

That could include a mask mandate, Higgs told CBC's Information Morning Fredericton.

"We may end up having to go to masks," he said. "If we do, it'll be further restrictions on our people that have gone the distance."

"It'll be done because people have refused to get their vaccines."

Higgs said 90 per cent of the people in hospital for COVID did not get vaccinated.

He admitted vaccinations slowed down more than expected once the emergency order was lifted, but it was important to return to some normality.

The idea was to reward those who have gone the distance, he said. 

That's why a renewed mask mandate was not part of new proof of vaccination rules announced earlier this week.

"You want to continue to create that incentive for people to get vaccinated. … And if we allow everyone just to be treated the same, then it comes right down to, 'Oh, well, if I'm going to be treated the same, then why bother?'"

Higgs said he hopes the recent rise in demand for vaccinations since new proof of vaccination measures were announced Wednesday will continue.

"But it's unfortunate that it's taken this restriction on their daily lives in order to move [to] the next step."

Medical experts say even people who are vaccinated can carry the delta variant and pass it on to vulnerable groups, such as children who are too young to be vaccinated.

Higgs said that's why stricter mask rules have been introduced in schools.

Although case counts are increasing, those infected, including children, aren't getting very sick, he added.

Breakdown of new cases

Here is a breakdown of the 57 new cases of COVID-19 reported Friday.

Moncton region, Zone 1, 15 cases:

• A person 19 or under
• Two people 20-29
• Two people 30-39
• Two people 40-49
• Two people 50-59
• A person 60-69
• A person 70-79
• Four people 90 and over

Eight of these cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and seven are under investigation.

Saint John region, Zone 2, three cases:

• Two people 30-39
• A person 40-49

Two of these cases are under investigation and one is a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, 16 cases:

• Eight people 19 or under
• Two people 20-29
• Two people 30-39
• Two people 50-59
• A person 60-69
• A person 70-79

Seven of these cases are under investigation and nine are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Edmundston region, Zone 4, nine cases:

• Three people 19 or under
• Two people 30-39
• A person 40-49
• Two people 50-59
• A person 60-69

Four of these cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and five are under investigation.

Campbellton region, Zone 5, 14 cases:

• Seven people 19 or under
• Four people 20-29
• Fwo people 30-39
• A  person 50-59

Ten cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

New Brunswick has had 3,237 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 2,818 recoveries so far and 48 COVID-related deaths.

A total of 432,494 tests have been conducted to date.

'Immediate need' for testing, vaccination staff

New Brunswick has an "immediate need" to recruit clinical and administrative staff for its COVID-19 testing sites and vaccination clinics in the Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton zones, the Horizon Health Network announced Friday.

The most "urgent need" is for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, medical lab assistants, and bilingual administrative staff, according to a news release.

The regional health authority is also asking existing staff to consider redeployment or take on extra shifts, according to an internal memo obtained by CBC News.

It cites the "recent increase in COVID-19 exposures and cases."

"In order to meet and address these crucial staffing needs, we need your help!"

On Thursday, Horizon's vice-president of community Jean Daigle told CBC News the health authority has seen an increased demand in testing in the wake of the recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The province has also seen an "uptick" in vaccination appointments since it announced new proof of vaccination requirements will take effect next week, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health.

There were 1,700 appointments booked at Horizon and Vitalité health network clinics on Wednesday and 1,929 on Thursday, said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

"Prior to Wednesday's announcement, the recent average was 600 bookings per day," he said in an emailed statement.

"We are also seeing a major uptick in walk-ins at these clinics," he said. On Thursday, 600 additional vaccines had to be delivered to a clinic in the Moncton area.

A total of 77.5 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 or older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 77.2 per cent on Thursday, and 86.1 per cent have received at least one dose, up from 85.8.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs announced people aged 12 or older will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and government identification to access certain businesses and events, such as restaurants and indoor funerals, starting next Wednesday, in a bid to limit the spread of the virus and boost vaccination rates.

Anyone entering New Brunswick, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, will also have to pre-register and show proof of vaccination. If they're not fully vaccinated, they'll have to self-isolate for 14 days unless they can provide a negative test result after 10 days.

"We all have a role to play in the fight against COVID-19," the Horizon news release said. "If you are available to provide on-site support at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic or assessment centre in these areas, we want to hear from you."

To apply, people are asked to send their resumé by email to [email protected] or apply online at www.interceptum.com/s/en/PandemicSupport.

'Pandemic hiring'

In the internal memo, existing staff who are willing to help are asked to speak to their manager about redeployment options or their interest in picking up additional shifts.

If travel is required, they will be reimbursed, Kerry Kennedy, regional director of talent and engagement, advised.

Casual shifts will be offered to part-time and casual staff first and then offered to full-time staff as required/approved, she wrote.

If staff know someone not employed by Horizon who is interested and available to provide on-site support in the Moncton region, Zone 1, Saint John region, Zone 2, or Fredericton region, Zone 3, they're encouraged to get those individuals to apply online or email their resumes, with the subject, "Pandemic Hiring."

"We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and your dedication to health care and the pandemic response is appreciated," wrote Kennedy.

Horizon is seeking approximately 10 clinical staff and five administrative support staff for the testing sites, vice-president of community Jean Daigle told CBC News.

It's looking for another 20 to 30 clinicians and 10 to 20 administrative support staff for the vaccination clinics, he said.

Daigle did not say whether they will be full-time, part-time or casual positions, but did say any new hires will go through a "rapid onboarding process so they can join our team as quickly as possible."

"Funding for these measures has been allocated in our pandemic response budget," he said in an emailed statement, without providing any figures.

In the past, Horizon has called on volunteers, such as medical students and retired health-care professionals, to help out during peak periods.

Horizon officials did not respond to a request for comment about why the regional health authority has decided to hire now instead.

Earlier this week, 71 health-care employees across the province were off work for COVID-related reasons, the chief medical officer had said.

Visits suspended at Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph

No visitors are allowed at Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph, effective immediately, because of the recent increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area, the Horizon Health Network announced on Friday.

There are some exceptions for certain patients, including those in palliative care, according to a news release.

In addition, patients visiting the emergency department and outpatient clinics who require assistance may have one support person, the release said.

New public exposure notices

Public Health has identified new places in New Brunswick where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus:

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• September 13 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Spinco (1690 Mountain Rd., Moncton)
• Sept. 12 between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Green Pig Country Market (2927 Fredericton Rd., Salisbury)
• Sept. 11 between midnight and 2 a.m. – Gerry's Rec Center (3251 Route 535, Cocagne)
• Sept. 11 between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Salisbury Big Stop (2986 Fredericton Rd., Salisbury)
• Sept. 11 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. –  A & C Convenience Store laundromat (369 McLaughlin Rd., Moncton)
• Sept. 9 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Old Triangle Pub (751 Main St., Moncton)

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Sept. 15 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Walmart (80 Main St., Sussex)
• Sept. 15 between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Sussex Regional Library (46 Magnolia Ave., Sussex)
• Sept. 15 between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Costco (300 Retail Dr., Saint John)

Fredericton region, Zone 3:

• Sept. 12 between noon and 1 p.m. – Oak Tree Pub (1333 Aroostook Rd., Perth-Andover)
• Sept. 12 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – East Side Mario's (14 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
• Sept. 12 between 10:30 a.m. and noon – Perth-Andover Baptist Church (194 Barrett St., Perth-Andover)

Edmundston region, Zone 4:

• Between Sept. 7 and 15 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Duclos et fils (4 Leblanc Rd., Kedgwick)
• Sept. 11 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Resto Pub Sportif (132 Canada St., Saint-Quentin)
• Sept. 10 between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – St. Quentin Co-op (145 Canada St., Saint-Quentin)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Clinique dentaire Thériault (175 Canada St., Saint-Quentin)
• Sept. 8 between noon and 12:30 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (240 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 7 between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. – Resto Pub Sportif (132 Canada St., Saint-Quentin)
• Sep. 7 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. – Theriault and Morin Dentist (148 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)

Campbellton region, Zone 5:

• Sept. 12 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  – City Centre Mall (157 Water St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 9 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.  – The Mobile Shop (25 Savoie Ave., Campbellton)

Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Sept. 13 between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (700 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst)
• Sept. 10 between 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. – H.P. Haché (259 Main St., Nigadoo)
• Sept. 9 and 10 between 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Intermarché (52 Rochette St., Petit Rocher)

Public Health recommends that people who have been at a possible public exposure site and are not fully vaccinated get a COVID test, even if they don't have symptoms. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811.

If they do have symptoms, they must isolate while they await their results.

For people who are fully vaccinated, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID test if symptoms develop.

Anyone who frequented the locations at the specified dates and times should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters for the next 14 days.

Previous exposure notices

Public Health has identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flights:

Flight exposure notifications: 

• Sept.14 – Air Canada Flight 8502 – from Montreal to Fredericton departed at 1:25 p.m.
• Sept. 8 – Air Canada Flight 8790 – from Montreal to Saint John departed at 7:53 p.m.
• Sept. 5 – Air Canada Flight 8502 – from Montreal to Fredericton departed at 1:59 p.m.
• Sept. 4 – Air Canada Flight 8502 – from Montreal to Fredericton departed at 1:58 p.m. 

Public Health has also identified places in New Brunswick where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus during the past two weeks.

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• Sept. 11 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. –  A & C Convenience Store laundromat (369 McLaughlin Rd., Moncton)
• Sept. 10 between 9 p.m. and midnight – Daquiri Smokehouse (3 Acadie Rd., Bouctouche)
• Sept. 10 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Pirate de la Mer (10 Industrielle Rd., Bouctouche)
• Sept. 10 between 1:30 p.m. and midnight – P'tit Pub du Tchè (40 Irving Blvd., Bouctouche)
• Sept. 10 between 10:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. – Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre Emergency Room (330 Université Ave, Moncton)
• Sept. 10 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. – McDonald's (420 Paul St., Dieppe)
• Sept. 9 and 10 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. – Supercuts (45 Plaza Blvd., Moncton)
• Sept. 9 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Swiss Chalet (80 Champlain St., Dieppe)
• Sept. 8 between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. – Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre Emergency Room (330 Université Ave, Moncton)
• Sept. 8 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Moncton Golf & Country Club clubhouse (212 Coverdale Rd., Riverview)
• Sept. 8 between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Supercuts (45 Plaza Blvd., Moncton)
• Sept. 8 between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. – Golf Town (52 Wyse St., Moncton)
• Sept. 8 between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre outpatient clinic (330 Université Ave, Moncton)
• Sept. 8 and September 7 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. – MacDonald Buick GMC Cadillac (111 Baig Blvd. Moncton)
• Sept. 7 between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. – TH Sports Group, Sports Complex (184 Barker St., Moncton)
• Sept. 7 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. - Supercuts (45 Plaza Blvd., Moncton)
• Sept. 6 between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Pizza Delight (526 Main St., Shediac)
• Sept. 6 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Club Chasse et Pêche Haute-Aboujagne (326 Aboujagne Rd., Haute-Aboujagne)
• Sept. 5 between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. – Casino New Brunswick (21 Casino Dr., Moncton)
• Sept. 5 between midnight and 2 a.m. – Second Floor Nightclub (837 Main St., Moncton)
• Sept. 5 between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. – Mama's Restaurant (806 Main St., Moncton)
• Sept. 5 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Shediac Market (10 Weldon St., Shediac)
• Sept. 4 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. - Cosmo dance night club (837 Main St., Moncton)
• Sept. 4 between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Walmart (477 Paul St., Dieppe)
• Sept. 4 between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. – Dieppe Market (232 Gauvin St., Dieppe)
• Sept. 4 between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Kelsey's Restaurant (141 Trinity Dr., Moncton)
• Sept. 4 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Nita's Bar and Grill (1999 Mountain Rd., Moncton)
• Sept. 4 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – Champlain Mall (477 Paul St., Dieppe)
• Sept. 3 between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Café Cognito (581 Main St., Moncton)
• Sept. 3 between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. – Dieppe Market (232 Gauvin St., Dieppe) 

Saint John region, Zone 2:

• Sept. 12 between 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Abundant Life United Pentecostal Church (488 Main St., Sussex)
• Sept. 11 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Canadian Tire (138 Main St., Sussex)
• Sept. 9 between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Dollarama (286 Main St., Sussex)
• Sept. 8 between 11 a.m. and noon – Starbucks (15 Depot Ct., Saint John)
• Sept. 8 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – Starbucks (641 Harding St., Saint John)
• Sept. 8 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Starbucks (30 Lacey St., Rothesay)
• Sept. 8 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Dollarama (101 McAllister Dr., Saint John)
• Sept. 7 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Walmart (450 Westmorland Rd., Saint John)
• Sept. 7 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Superstore (168 Rothesay Ave., Rothesay)
• Sept. 5 between 10:30 a.m. and noon – Full Gospel Assembly (34 Mount Pleasant Ave. E, Saint John)
• Sept. 4 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Old Navy (90 Consumers Dr., E Saint John)
• Sept. 4 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Java Moose Coffee (519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John)
• Sept. 1 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Costco (300 Retail Dr., Saint John)

Fredericton region, Zone 3: 

• Sept. 10 between 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. – Acorn Restaurant (10 Route 635, Lake George)
• Sept. 8 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Turning Point Pentecostal Church (2031 Route 3, Harvey)
• Sept. 8 between noon and 5 p.m. – Kings Landing (5804 Route 102, Prince William)
• Sept. 7 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Northeast Christian College – Opening Service (128 River St., Fredericton)
• Sept. 7 between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Northeast Christian College – Dinner (128 River St., Fredericton)
• Sept. 4 between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Subway (Unit 3, F. Tribe Rd., Perth-Andover)
• Sept. 4 between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Upper Miramichi Rural Community Park (6094 Route 8, Boiestown)
• Sept. 3 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Tobique Youth Center (268 Main St., Tobique First Nations)
• Sept. 1, 2, 3, and Aug. 30 and 31 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Goodine Insurance (126 Ford Rd., Perth-Andover)
• Sept. 3 between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Guardian Johnson Drug (16F. Tribe Rd., Perth-Andover)
• Sept. 3 between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – TCBY Yogurt (121 Route 550, Hartford)
• Sept. 2 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Swiss Chalet (961 Prospect St., Fredericton)
• Sept. 2 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Princess Auto (21 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
• Sept. 2 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. – Wetmore Street Pub (530 New Maryland Highway, New Maryland

Edmundston Region, Zone 4

• Sept. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. – Merritt Press (208 Main St., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 9 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (240 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – CCNB – Edmundston campus (35, rue du 15 août, Edmundston)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – UMCE Université de Moncton, Edmundston campus  (165 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
• Sept. 8 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Le Grand-Saut (155 Broadway Bd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 8 between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Jean Coutu (276 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
• September 8 between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. –  A&A Ouellette Entreprise Ltd (1423 Tobique Rd., Drummond)
• Sept. 7 between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 5 between 4: p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – FOODLAND (535 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 5 between 9:30 a.m. and noon – St. Patrick Catholic Church (2154 Route 130, Limestone Siding)
• Sept. 4 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Burger King (100 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 3 between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 3 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Canadian Tire (383 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 3 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Town Hall [Public Health Office, Mental Health Office, Social Development, Library, Police Office, Town Planning Office] (131 Pleasant Rd., Grand Falls)
• Sept. 2 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Theriault and Morin Dentist (148 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)

Campbellton region, Zone 5:

• Sept. 10 between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.  – Tap's Bar (42 Water St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.  – Gym Fitness (384 Dover St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.  – CCNB – Campbellton (47 Village Ave., Campbellton)
• Sept. 7 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.  – Atlantic Superstore (25 Savoie Ave., Atholville)
• Sept. 7 between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Restigouche Walk-In Clinic (68 Water St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 7 between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  – Salon de Coiffure Cheveux Modern Hair (59 Water St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 6 between noon and 3:30 p.m.  – Super 8 Hotel (Reception and Pool) (26 Duke St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 6 between 11 a.m. and noon  – Dairy Queen (84 Notre Dame St., Atholville)
• Sept. 5 between 2:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. – North Shore Cinema (52 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 4 and 5 – Life Church (198 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 4 between 7 p.m. and midnight – Balmoral Community Centre (21 Centre Rd., Balmoral)
• Sept. 4 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.  – Atlantic Superstore (25 Savoie Ave., Atholville)
• Sept. 4 – Restigouche Golf and Country Club (30565 McLeods Rte. 134, Campbellton)
• Sept. 3 between noon and 1 p.m.  – Chez Kim Restaurant (65 Water St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 3 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.  – Life Church (198 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
• Sept. 2 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.  – Atlantic Superstore (25 Savoie Ave., Atholville) 

Acadie-Bathurst region, Zone 6:

• Sept. 8 between 8 a.m. and noon – CCNB – Bathurst Campus, Main Building (725 Collège Rd., Bathurst)
• Sept. 4 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Studio Olympus (1079 Principale Rd., Beresford)
• Sept. 2 between 10 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. – Dooly's (426 B St., Tracadie-Sheila) 

Miramichi region, Zone 7:

• Sept. 11 between noon and 1 p.m. – Fundy Line Restaurant (869 King George Highway, Miramichi)
• Sept. 10 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – River Signs (2311 King George Highway, Miramichi)
• Sept. 8 and 9 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. – River Signs (2311 King George Highway, Miramichi)
• Sept. 9 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Jungle Jim's Restaurant (2441 King George Highway, Miramichi)
• Sept. 8 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Cali.Co. Café (1 Allan St., Miramichi)

The full list of possible exposures is updated regularly and is available on the government's website.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment test online.

Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and 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 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.