Northwest N.B. prepares to enter full lockdown, province confirms 17 new cases

The Edmundston and Grand Falls region will see businesses shut down and schools close as it enters a strict lockdown at midnight on Saturday.

The Zone 4 health area reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, just hours from from the beginning of tighter restrictions. Residents are urged to stay home as much as possible as case numbers continue to climb.

New Brunswick confirmed 17 new cases Saturday, the day after officials announced the lockdown at a news conference.

Eric Marquis, Edmundston's deputy mayor, said he expected tighter restrictions and supports the lockdown.

"We knew that at one point we would have to push on the reset button and stop the spread," he said.

Cases in Zone 4 have doubled four times since Jan. 6, when there were seven active cases. There are currently 135 active cases in the region, including some reported in schools, retirement homes and workplaces.

Manoir Belle Vue, a special care home in Edmundston, has reported 20 casesin total as part of an outbreak.

The lockdown will have similar restrictions to those rolled out provincewide at the start of the pandemic, and is expected to last at least two weeks. Most non-essential businesses will be forced to close, and schools will switch to virtual learning.

Grand Falls Mayor Marcel Deschnes said he is only aware of three cases in the Grand Falls area since the start of the pandemic.

"Going from red to lockdown it's a little hard to swallow," he said.

Deschnes said Grand Falls businesses have been struggling during the pandemic.

"I talked to a businesswoman yesterday," he said. "She told me she had one customer come in. She has bills to pay at the end of the month.She's got employees that she has to lay off."

17 new cases

The new cases reported on Saturday include:

In the Moncton region (Zone 1), five new cases:

• an individual 19 and under.
• an individual 20-29.
• an individual 30-39.
• two people 50-59.

In the Saint John region (Zone 2), one new case:

• an individual 19 and under.

In the Edmundstonregion(Zone 4), 10 new cases:

• two people 20-29.
• an individual 40-49.
• two people 50-59.
• five people 60-69.

In the Campbellton region (Zone 5), one new case:

• an individual 20-29.

New Brunswick has confirmed 1,104 total cases of COVID-19 and 762 recoveries.

There are 328 active cases. Five people are in the hospital, including three in intensive care.

The province has recorded 13 deaths related to the illness. Public Health conducted 4,999 tests since Friday's update, for a total of 186,796.

Most businesses will close

Service New Brunswick offices in Zone 4 will be closed.

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.

Most red-phase rules, such as maintaining a single-household bubble, continue to apply.

Edmundstonpolice are conducting roadside checks to enforce compliance with single-household bubble rules throughout the weekend.

Renters are also protected against evictions during the lockdown. Landlords can not begin proceedings until 10 days after the restrictions end.

Marquis said Public Health informed him of transmission of COVID-19 at some businesses in the community.

At least 20 cases are linked to an outbreak at theNadeauPoultryslaughterhouse in Saint-Franois-de-Madawaska.

Most workers at the plantcome from the Edmundston and Clairregion in New Brunswick, with about 25 workers coming from Quebec and two from Maine.

The plant is minutes from the New Brunswick-Maine border.

Dr. John Tobin, head of the family medicine department in Zone 4 for the Vitalit Health Network, said the atmosphere at the Edmundston Regional Hospital is tense.Staff are preparing space forthe event people with COVID-19 need to be hospitalized.

"We see comments a little bit everywhere of people who don't follow the restrictions," he said. "It worries us a lot."

While the lockdown will last a minimum of two weeks, the officials will assess the situation every seven days. Marquis is urging residents to stay home and is hopeful the tighter measures will be effective.

"If everybody is part of the solution, I think that we could be back, say orange or yellow, in the next couple of weeks," he said.

Quebec border region wants checkpoint

The mayors of theTmiscouataRegional Municipality, which borders Zone 4 to the north, are calling for further protections in response to the surge in cases in the Edmundston region.

The leaders sent a letter to the Quebec provincial government on Thursday asking for the installation of a checkpoint at the border with New Brunswick to stop the spread of outbreaks.

Therearecurrently border inspection posts at the Saint-Jacques, Baker Lake, Matapdiaand Campbelltonpoints of entry into New Brunswick. But those travelling into Quebec from New Brunswick are currently not subject to screening.

The letter is part of a larger effort to close off the entireBas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec with checkpoints.

People can continue to travel across the provincial border for essential reasons, such as commuting daily for work, for medical care, to attend school, or for child custody agreements.

Protester arrested near premier's home

One person was arrested and several ticketshanded out at a protest near the home of Premier Blaine Higgs in Quispamsis on Saturday, according to Corporal Kim Bennett of Kennebecasis Regional Police.

"There have been protests there for a number of Saturdays," Bennett said.

She said police were there to enforce the mandatory order early Saturday afternoon.

Bennett said some tickets were handed out for infractions under the emergency measures act, but she would not give further details about the nature of the ticketsor how many were handed out.

In a video posted online, police can be heard issuing a ticket to a person for failing to wear a mask.

The person who was arrested has since been released, Bennett said.

What to do if you have asymptom

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.