N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 51 new cases, demand for vaccination rising

Public Health is reporting 51 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Thursday, along with a rise in demand for vaccination in the wake of new measures announced on Wednesday.

"We are seeing an uptick in vaccination appointments since we announced our new measures that will come into effect next week," Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell said in a news release.

"It is imperative for New Brunswickers to get vaccinated, so now is the time to book your appointment at a regional health authority clinic or call a participating pharmacy."

The uptick in demand doesn't appear to have yet impacted vaccination numbers, however, with 77.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers vaccinated against COVID-19 on Thursday — the same as it was on Wednesday.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs announced that people aged 12 and 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.

The new rules were announced alongside 63 new COVID-19 cases — the biggest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic — and the province's 48th death from the disease.

Those not fully vaccinated are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.

All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose, says Public Health.

Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.

A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.

Breakdown of the new cases

Of the 51 new cases, 92 per cent were among people who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, said Public Health. Fifteen people are in hospital, an increase of three since the day before. Nine are in intensive care, up from seven the day before.

There are now 336 active cases in the province. A total of 429,881 tests have been done since the pandemic began, including 2,231 since the last report.

Here is a breakdown of the new cases.

Moncton region, Zone 1, 10 new cases.

• A person 19 and under
• Four people 20 to 29
• A person 40 to 49
• Two people 50 to 59
• A person 60 to 69
• A person 90 and over

Seven are under investigation and three are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Saint John region, Zone 2, one new case.

• A person 40 to 49

The case is under investigation.

Fredericton region, Zone 3, 21 new cases.

• Eleven people 19 and under
• A person 20 to 29
• Two people 30 to 39
• Two people 50 to 59
• Five people 60 to 69

Fifteen are under investigation and six are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Edmundston region, Zone 4, four new cases.

• Two people 19 and under
• A person 20 to 29
• A person 40 to 49

Two are under investigation and two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Campbellton region, Zone 5, 12 new cases.

• Six people 19 and under
• Two people 20 to 29
• Three people 30 to 39
• A person 40 to 49

Five are under investigation, six are contacts of previously confirmed cases and one is travel-related.

Bathurst region, Zone 6, three new cases.

• Two people 20 to 29
• A person 40 to 49

All three are under investigation.

Cases confirmed at more schools

Positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at schools in zones within the Moncton, Fredericton and Edmundston regions.

In the Moncton regions, Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton and J.M.A. Armstrong/Salisbury Middle School in Salisbury each confirmed a positive case of COVID-19. A positive case was also confirmed at Love and Learn Child Centre in Riverview.

In the Fredericton zone, Perth-Andover Middle School, Southern Victoria High School and Andover Elementary School, all in Perth-Andover, each recorded a case of COVID-19.

In the Edmundston zone, two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at Polyvalente Alexandre-J.-Savoie in Saint-Quentin.

On Wednesday evening acting superintendent of Anglophone East School District Pamela Wilson told parents students will be staying home Thursday, and public health is working to confirm who's been a close contact of the confirmed case.

"We understand you may feel anxious over the coming days," Wilson wrote in the letter to parents. 

She said Public Health will work with the school, and parents will be contacted if their child has been exposed. She said if parents don't get an email about their child being exposed, the students should closely self-monitor for symptoms this week and get tested if any develop.

"Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about any anxieties and remind them to treat one another with kindness and respect, in person and on social media," Wilson said.

Pharmacies see increase in new vaccine appointments

New Brunswick pharmacies are seeing a renewed and increased demand for vaccination appointments Thursday.

Jake Reid, executive director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association, said he's heard from multiple pharmacies that demand has increased since the new vaccine requirement rules were announced, .

"One presumes this has to do with partly the new policy that the government has brought in to say that people will be limited in their participation in things like restaurants and gyms and cineplexes and so on," he said. "And frankly, there's still people that are seeking their first dose that just haven't gotten around to it yet or many people who had been waiting to get their second dose."

Reid said over the past weeks, the 200 pharmacies that have vaccines have been administering a total of about 1,000 shots per day on average.

Because of this, some don't have a lot of doses on hand. He said this could mean some pharmacies may run out of doses in the next few days, but that doesn't mean supply is low.

"We know that there's more than enough vaccines available in New Brunswick," he said. 

New measures get mixed reaction from restaurant industry

A restaurant industry association is giving a mixed review to the new pandemic measures adopted by the Blaine Higgs government.

Starting next Wednesday, people 12 and up will have to show proof of vaccination to get into New Brunswick restaurants as well as bars, gyms and entertainment venues.

Children under 12 will also need to present government-issued identification, such as a birth certificate or Medicare card.

That's better than having to shut down, said Luc Erjavec, Restaurants Canada's vice-president for Atlantic Canada. 

With the financial state of the industry right now restaurants could not take another shutdown, Erjavec said.

We're going to be the ones on the front lines, you know, having to check for these certificates, refusing entry for those who don't have it- Luc Erjavec, Restaurants Canada

Forty-five per cent of restaurants are still losing money, he said.

Implementing the new rules, however, could put restaurants in a difficult position, said Erjavec.

"We're in the hospitality business. Our business is to serve our customers … to make their experience enjoyable. 

"But instead, we're going to be the ones on the front lines, you know, having to check for these certificates, refusing entry for those who don't have it."

Erjavec is concerned restaurant owners and employees will bear the brunt of public frustration over the new measures.

"You could have a 17- or 18-year-old hostess or host who has an irate customer berating them because they're refused entry to a restaurant. It's not the restaurant's policy. It's a government policy."

Restaurants have a hard enough time already to find enough employees to stay open, he said.

Experience in other provinces has shown they'll essentially have to hire another person to enforce the new rules, he said.

On the other hand, if they don't comply they face possible fines of up to $770.

Either way, said Erjavec, the new rules will likely be a financial burden.

Sales will probably drop, he said, because enforcement will slow down service, and some people will stay away because they don't want the hassle.

"There's a busy lineup on Friday night and, you know, a table of 10 shows up and it takes five minutes or 10 minutes for everyone to dig out their certificates, find out if it's valid. Or maybe one person doesn't have it. Then, is a whole table of 10 going to leave?"

If restaurants are the ones enforcing the new rules, he said, the government should provide some financial support.

He'd like to see more onus placed on customers and government employees.

Individuals could be held personally responsible to make sure they're vaccinated before entering.

"Why couldn't you have an inspector outside the restaurant? Someone comes out. You say, 'Can I see your certificate?' They don't have it, fine them."

"Why should a restaurant owner who has just lived through 18 months, barely hanging on by the skin of the teeth, be the ones who are the tool to implement government policy?"

Regulation should be done with a soft hand, he added, noting it was bad for business earlier in the pandemic when inspectors showed up in flak jackets to check on contact-tracing procedures.

St. Mary's First Nation postpones powwow

St. Mary's First Nation is postponing its powwow originally scheduled for Sept. 18 because of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

In a notice sent to the public, the First Nation said the 21st annual powwow will be postponed to a date still to be determined based on guidance from the Emergency Measures Operations team.
 
"More information regarding our community's fourth wave COVID-19 response will be released soon," the notice said.
 
"St. Mary's First Nation Administration, EMO, and Pow-Wow Committee would like to thank our community and attendees for being understanding of this delay." 

New 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.

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

Moncton region, Zone 1:

• 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)

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)

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. 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 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. 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 Williams)
• 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.