New Brunswick see eighth COVID-19 related death, Edmundston region shifted back to Orange level of recovery due to outbreak

New Brunswick – “This reminds us once again that behind the numbers and statistics that we cite at these briefings, there are people.”

Those were the words of Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, as she announced the province has seen its eighth death as a result of complications from COVID-19.

“Fellow New Brunswickers who enjoyed life and love with family and friends who cherished them,” she added.

The individual was a resident of Zone 4, the Edmundston region, between the ages of 60 and 69.

Russell, along with Minister of Health, Dorothy Shephard, also announced today that Zone 4, the Edmundston region, will move back to the Orange level of recovery at midnight tonight, due to an outbreak at the Edmundston Regional Hospital.

Russell said “never say never”, but said it’s possible Zone 4 will not have returned to the Yellow level of recovery by Christmas, which is two weeks from today.

On the topic of vaccines, Russell said it is currently unknown if a person who has been immunized can still pass on the COVID-19 virus, so those who have received the vaccination will still have to live as though they can pass the virus until more details are known.

There were eight new cases of COVID-19 reported today.

Six of the cases are in Zone 4, the Edmundston region, and have been identified as close contacts of previously confirmed cases and are self-isolating. They are:

  • one individual 30-39;
  • one individual 40-49;
  • three people 50-59; and
  • one individual 60 to 69.

The other two cases are travel-related and are self-isolating. They are:

  • one individual 30 to 39 in Zone 3, the Fredericton region; and
  • one individual 60 to 69 in Zone 6, the Bathurst region.

The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 554 and 468 have recovered. There have been eight deaths, and the number of active cases is 78 with four cases currently in the hospital, including three in intensive care. As of today, 137,234 tests have been conducted.

On Friday, Dec.11, Public Health also identified a positive case of COVID-19 in an individual who may have been infectious on Dec. 4 while travelling on the following flights:

  • Air Canada Flight 8372 – from Fort McMurray to Calgary.
  • Air Canada Flight 144 – from Calgary to Toronto.
  • Air Canada Flight 8918 – from Toronto to Moncton.

Any individual who was on these flights should continue to follow the directives given to them during the travel registration process and when they entered New Brunswick.

editor@stcroixcourier.ca

Krisi Marples

Krisi Marples joined Advocate Media Inc. in 2012 and served as the Courier's editor from 2016 until mid-2022.