COVID-19: N.B. reports 5 more deaths as public service employees urged to get vaccinated

5 extra New Brunswickers have died of COVID-19, the province’s well being minister introduced Friday.

4 of the deaths had been within the Moncton area, involving two individuals of their 60s, an individual of their 70s and an individual of their 80s. An individual of their 70s in Zone 5, the Campbellton area, has additionally died.

“Each time we study that extra individuals have misplaced their life due to the virus, it’s extremely troublesome and I do know all New Brunswickers are feeling the influence of those losses,” mentioned Dorothy Shephard throughout a information convention Friday.

The province reported 40 new COVID-19 instances and 67 recoveries and Shephard mentioned she was happy to see the variety of recoveries had been larger than new instances.

“This can be a optimistic pattern that may hopefully proceed,” she mentioned.

Of the 40 new instances, 29 had been unvaccinated, two had been partially vaccinated and 9 had been totally vaccinated.

There are at the moment 50 individuals in hospital because of the virus, of whom 25 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated and 22 are totally vaccinated. There are 15 individuals in ICU, 14 of whom are unvaccinated and one is partially vaccinated.

7,000 public service staff but to be vaccinated

Shephard famous that earlier within the month, the province introduced that every one public service staff would should be totally vaccinated by Nov. 19. If they don’t seem to be capable of present proof of vaccination by that date, they are going to be despatched house with out pay.

Employees embody college workers and volunteers, early childhood and little one care suppliers, well being and long-term care employees, amongst others.

Since that announcement, Shephard mentioned there was “important enchancment” within the variety of staff who’ve been totally vaccinated. On Oct. 5, 18.9 per cent of their roughly 59,500 staff haven’t been vaccinated. This week, that quantity dropped to 13 per cent.

The well being minister mentioned she was involved that about 7,000 staff have but to obtain a single dose. An extra 650 nonetheless want their second dose, she mentioned.

“We merely can’t afford to have unvaccinated individuals working in New Brunswick’s public service,” she mentioned. “The potential dangers to coworkers, sufferers, college students and members of the general public is just too excessive.”

Shephard famous that after Friday, those that don’t but have their first dose received’t have sufficient time to get their second by the Nov. 19 deadline, since 28 days should move between doses.

“This implies they’ll spend no less than a while house from work with out pay,” she mentioned, including she urges people who find themselves not but totally vaccinated to get their pictures as quickly as doable.

“I stay hopeful that within the subsequent month, extra individuals within the public service will select to get vaccinated.”

As of Friday, 83.3 per cent of all eligible New Brunswickers have been vaccinated towards COVID-19 and 92 per cent have obtained their first dose.

As properly, starting Friday, health-care personnel and First Nations communities can start reserving booster dose appointments.

Halloween pointers

Shephard additionally introduced Halloween pointers for trick-or-treaters subsequent week.

There are a selection of circuit-breaker areas with more durable measures because the province struggles to get the fourth wave of COVID-19 beneath management. These areas are: Zone 1 (Moncton area) as far north as and together with Sainte-Anne-de-Kent and Havelock in Zone 2, Zone 3 (Fredericton area) within the higher Saint John River valley north of and together with Florenceville-Bristol, all of Zone 4 (Edmundston area), and all of Zone 5, the Campbellton area.

These within the above areas might trick-or-treat, however solely with family. Individuals outdoors of these areas might trick or deal with with their family, plus as much as 20 constant contacts.

These handing out treats in non-circuit-breaker areas are requested to sanitize their arms between guests, hold high-tough areas like door handles and railings clear, and supply treats by “touchless means.”

It asks that folks not allow children to take sweet from a bowl of treats, except the treats are organized in a manner that enables them to take one with out touching the others. Particular person deal with luggage are additionally inspired.

These in circuit-breaker areas should present treats by touchless means, and other people should put on masks when they’re unable to keep up a distance of no less than two metres.

Additional-curricular sports activities replace

Efficient Friday, groups and extra-curricular teams will be capable of journey inside New Brunswick, together with out and in of circuit breaker communities.

These beneath the age of 12 in circuit breaker communities may even be capable of resume college sports activities and extracurricular actions.

Spectators will be capable of attend school-related occasions held outdoors of college services in the event that they present proof of vaccination for 2 doses of an accredited COVID-19 vaccine.

New instances

Of the 40 new instances, 25 had been in Zone 1, the Moncton area. They contain:

• 10 individuals 19 and beneath;
• two individuals 20-29;
• 4 individuals 30-39;
• 4 individuals 50-59;
• three individuals 60-69;
• an individual 70-79; and
• an individual 80-89.

Twenty-four instances are beneath investigation and one is a contact of a beforehand confirmed case.

Three new instances had been in Zone 2, the Saint John area. They contain:

• an individual 20-29;
• an individual 40-49; and
• an individual 60-69.

All three are beneath investigation.

There have been 5 new instances present in Zone 3, the Fredericton area. They contain:

• three individuals 19 and beneath;
• an individual 20-29; and
• an individual 30-39.

All 5 are beneath investigation.

There have been additionally 5 new instances in Zone 4, the Edmundston area, which contain:

• an individual 19 and beneath;
• an individual 30-39;
• an individual 50-59; and
• two individuals 60-69.

They’re additionally all beneath investigation.

And there have been two new instances in Zone 5, the Campbellton area, each in individuals 19 and beneath. One case is beneath investigation and the opposite is a contact of a beforehand confirmed case.