N.B. COVID roundup: Province reports 20 new cases, 10 in Moncton

Parts of New Brunswick are reporting fewer cases of COVID-19 recently, but numbers remain high in the Moncton and Edmundston health zones.

The province announced20 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, mostly in those areas.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer, said there have been about 48 cases in the Moncton area, or Zone 1, in the last seven days. Of those cases, 12 are related to travel and many others are close contacts.

There are five people hospitalized with the virusacross the province with two in intensive care. The latest numbers bring the total number of active cases to 334.

The Moncton region (Zone 1) confirmed 10 new cases, which include:

• four people 19 and under.
• an individual 20-29.
• an individual 30-39.
• an individual 50-59.
• two people 60-69.
• an individual 70-79.

The Edmundston region (Zone 4) reported nine new cases:

• two people 19 and under.
• an individual 20-29.
• an individual 40-49.
• three people 50-59.
• an individual 60-69.
• an individual 80-89.

The Miramichi region (Zone 7), reported one new case:

• an individual 50-59.

All of the new cases are self-isolating and under investigation.

New Brunswick has confirmed1,124 total cases of COVID-19 and 776 recoveries. There have been 13 deaths.

Public Health has conducted185,936 since the start of the pandemic, including 3,000 since Saturday's update.

More schools to close

Schools in the Edmundston zone are now closed as part of the lockdown. But on Sunday, the province also announced that five schools in neighbouring Zone 3 will also move to learn-from-home models.

In Perth-Andover:

• AndoverElementary School.
• Perth-Andover Middle School.
• Southern Victoria High School.

In Plaster Rock:

• Donald Fraser Memorial School.
• Tobique Valley High.

The province saidthose schools are closing due to "operational challengesas a significant portion of the school community lives within Zone 4."

Staff in Zone 4 will work from home, while staff in Zone 3 will continue to work from their schools. Distance learning will continue until February 5.

A device-loaning program will be available for families of students in grades 3-8 who do not have access to technology at home.

Two new deaths at Shannex

Shannex Parklandin Saint John posted an update on its website Sunday saying two residents of Lily Court who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 died last week.

One resident died on Thursday and the other on Friday.

The province has not announced any new COVID related deaths in recent days.

In an email, a government spokesperson said "without getting into too many specifics and breaking confidentiality, a person who is positive for COVID-19 can die from other circumstances."

In its release, Shannex said reporting on whether a resident has died as a result of COVID-19 is sometimes complicated because of multiple health-care partners involved.

"Communicating openly with our residents, families and employees is a priority at Shannex and we understand that the delay in communicating the details may create some confusion, and we apologize for this."

Workplace transmission in Moncton

A diaper manufacturing plant in Moncton confirmed a contracted worker tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

Irving Personal Care confirmed the caseon Thursday, according to a statement.

"Contact tracing was completed and submitted to Public Health and we are co-operating fully with the province," said Stephen Donaher, vice president of operations. "On Thursday, we shut down operations and completed a full sanitization and disinfection of our entire plant."

Employees required to self-isolate continue to be paid, a practice which has been in place since the start of the pandemic, the company said.

The plant reopened Friday, according to a release.

Russell said transmission is still being detected in workplace settings.

"It really is important that people hear the message around testing," she said in an interview.

There are now 90 total active cases in the Moncton region.

RCMP say several people were ticketed at a demonstration outside of Moncton City Hall on Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Johnston couldn't confirm the number of tickets handed out orthe number of arrests, or the reasons for the arrests or tickets.

"The tickets that were issued were in relation to the Emergency Measures Act," he said.

Rapid tests less accurate

Irving Personal Care said it conducted rapid testing on 150 employees at the diaper facility following the positive case.

The company said all theresultsreturned negative and it plans to conduct another round of tests next week.

But Russell said rapid tests or antigen tests have a lower reliability for asymptomatic people, as they are designed for people experiencing symptoms.

"If people test negative it's not really reassuring," she said.

Public Health is not using rapid antigen tests to prevent false positives.

Russell said testing has increased in Zone 3 with a new site in Perth-Andover to gain a better picture of the situation.

"We can't get all the right information unless all the people who have symptoms are getting tested," she said.

Russell said if testing capacity grows, it will make it easier to determine if some regions can return to orange and yellow levels.

Zone 4 lockdown begins

The Edmundston and Grand Falls region (Zone 4) entered full lockdown on Saturday, which is expected to last for a minimum of two weeks.

Most non-essential businesses have beenforced to close, and schools are switching to virtual learning on Monday.

Cathy Pelletier, executive director of Edmundston Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she's really concerned about the tourism industry.

"Being in a lockdown right now, nobody can come here and no one can come out," she said. "Basically the hotels are empty right now."

Grocery stores, pharmacies, NB Liquor stores and Cannabis NB stores will remain open. Veterinary clinics can also stay open with animals dropped off at the curb. Libraries will open to allowinternet access.

Regulated health-care professionals, such as dentists, can continue to operate.

The province said early childhood education facilities can also continue to operate, with the help of a $3 hourly wage boost foremployees who work during the lockdown.

Edmundston faces fewhospital beds

Health-care workers in northwest New Brunswick are concerned about the availability of intensive care beds as case numbers climb.

The Edmundston Regional Hospital only has 11 beds for intensive care. With case numbers in Zone 4 surging, there are worries those beds could fill up.

The health region began a full lockdown on Saturday and has 144 active cases of COVID-19.

Dr. Laurie Malenfant said there are COVID-positive patientsat the hospital.

"We have some who are even fighting for their lives," she told Radio-Canada.

"It makes the environment a little stressfulbecause we know they won't be the last patients to come with what is happening in the community."

The province announced 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, including 10 in the Edmundston and Grand Falls region.

Nine more new cases were announced for the region on Sunday.

The region is also grappling with cases inside long-term care homes.

Manoir Belle Vue, a special care home in Edmundston, has confirmed 20 positive cases.

Public Health has also declared outbreaks atLe Pavillon Le Royer, another long-term care home in Edmundston, and Foyer Ste-Elizabeth in nearby Baker Brook.

Malenfant said while health-care workers have the situation under control, things could change rapidly.

The beds in the Edmundstonhospital's intensive care unit are notsolely for those with COVID-19.

"Other illnesses continue to enter, we need to be able to provide good service to everyone, not just to people who will have contracted the virus," Malenfant said.

There are fears that health-care workers could become infected, leading to a reduction in staffing capacity.

"Employees who are certified to work with people in critical care situations, we have a limited number," said Malenfant.