New Brunswick health officials reported 65 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, ahead of several changes to the circuit breaker areas.
Following 65 recoveries from the virus, the provincial active caseload remains at 580.
New cases include 20 infections in the Moncton region, 15 infections in the Saint John region and 18 in the Fredericton region.
There are 19 New Brunswickers battling COVID-19 in hospitals, including 11 people in an intensive care unit.
86.3 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 93 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.
Circuit breaker changes
At 6 p.m. tonight, circuit breaker measures will be lifted for the affected areas in the Saint John health zone.
“There are 22 new cases in the Saint John region today and we are monitoring the situation,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.
“However, many of the positive cases today are from people who previously had positive results from rapid tests and were already self-isolating while they waited for confirmation of a PCR test. At this time, Public Health remains comfortable removing the circuit breaker in the zone as those people were isolating.”
In the Moncton region, communities affected by the circuit breaker measures will be reduced to just Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.
“Residents in Moncton are going on week five of circuit breaker measures, and I understand that people are feeling tired and frustrated, however, the issue of household gatherings and people not isolating is our major source of problems in that area,” said Russell.
“I am meeting with community leaders in this area today to help explain what is taking place so they can assist in letting residents know what they have to do to help bring the situation back under control.”
Additionally, a circuit breaker will take effect at 6 p.m. tonight for 14 days for all of the Miramichi region, except for Black River Bridge and communities to the east, Murray Settlement and areas south, and New Jersey and communities north.
Outbreaks in First Nations communities
Public Health has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at Oromocto First Nation and Woodstock First Nation in the Fredericton health zone.
Following confirmation of positive cases, members of the Provincial Rapid Outbreak Management Team were deployed to assist those communities with testing. There are 15 confirmed cases at Oromocto First Nation and 16 at Woodstock First Nation.
The 20 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
- nine people 19 and under;
- two people 20-29;
- a person 30-39;
- three people 40-49;
- a person 50-59;
- a person 60-69;
- two people 70-79; and
- a person 80-89.
Thirteen cases are under investigation and seven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The 15 new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:
- four people 19 and under;
- three people 20-29;
- a person 30-39;
- four people 40-49;
- a person 70-79; and
- two people 80-89.
Eleven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and four cases are under investigation.
The 18 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
- two people 19 and under;
- two people 20-29;
- seven people 30-39;
- three people 40-49;
- a person 50-59;
- a person 60-69; and
- two people 70-79.
Twelve cases are under investigation and six are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The three cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
- a person 19 and under;
- a person 30-39; and
- a person 40-49.
All three cases are under investigation.
The nine new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
- four people 19 and under;
- a person 20-29;
- a person 30-39;
- two people 50-59; and
- a person 70-79.
Five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and four are under investigation.
Active case breakdown:
Zone 1: 212
Zone 2: 114
Zone 3: 101
Zone 4: 19
Zone 5: 22
Zone 6: 4
Zone 7: 108
