The province has put in place a pandemic task force in order to respond more quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The task force will oversee all aspects of the health-care system, including the regional health authorities, Extra-Mural and Ambulance New Brunswick as well as primary care, and the long-term care system .
On the force are chief medical officer of health Dr Jennifer Russell, deputy health minister Gerald Richard and two doctors from the province’s health authorities; Dr. Gordon Dow, infectious disease specialist of Horizon Health Network and Dr. Nicole LeBlanc, chief of staff of Vitalité Health Network.
Premier Blaine Higgs says this approach will implement actions and deploy resources across the health-care system.
“They will all work hand-in-hand with health minister Ted Flemming. This task force will be vested with decision-making authority about the pandemic response for all aspects of the health-care system, including the regional health authorities, Extra-Mural and Ambulance New Brunswick, primary care, and the long-term care system,” says Higgs.
Minister Flemming says it’s important to not only be on top of the outbreak, but ahead of it.
“The situation demands that the province be able to react rapidly and effectively to ensure we minimize the impacts of this insidious virus on our citizens,” says Flemming.
He says this command centre will allow decisions-making and implementation to be done in real time.
