NB COVID-19 collection: travel risks must be examined as 9 new cases reported

But it is not recommending the government to restrict essential workers who are exempt from the usual 14-day isolation requirement or that entry to the province be further restricted, he said.

Instead, public health intends to “control” travel in and out of the province and how to make it “as safe as possible”.

“We’ve tried to get all the information we can into a log,” Russell said. “We looked at travel patterns: who comes in every day, who comes in rotation, etc., and once again, looking for ways to make it safer and more secure.”

Travel has been the main driver of COVID-19 outbreaks in New Brunswick since the pandemic began in March, but travel-related case risks are on the rise, he said, as the number of cases in other jurisdictions is on the rise. .

“So our job is, of course, to limit COVID’s ability to get in here. And then, once it gets there, limit transmission and keep outbreaks small and short.”

Last week, Nova Scotia tightened its post-travel isolation requirements after a cluster of new COVID-19 cases were identified in a Halifax neighborhood.

Travelers arriving in Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic provinces must now isolate themselves from family and friends. Otherwise, all family members must also isolate themselves.

Previously, travelers could isolate themselves with family or friends as long as physical distance was guaranteed and a separate bathroom was used. Other individuals in the home did not need to self-isolate but needed to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.

The change does not affect rolling workers, skilled workers, people who have exceptions to attend a funeral or stay with a close family member, and people who are exempt from self-isolation under the public health order, such as military, police, first responders, truckers and flight crews.

Work on testing strategies

Russell said New Brunswick is working with WorkSafeNB to develop some “for certain workers” testing strategies.

The province already has testing protocols for workers who travel daily. They should be tested twice a week.

“We need these workers because we can’t really keep the economy going and we can’t keep some of our … health services available without these workers,” he said.

On Wednesday, BC Premier John Horgan called on the federal government to restrict non-essential travel between provinces during the pandemic.

Asked if that would make his job easier, Russell said New Brunswick has already seen an 80% drop in incoming travelers by discouraging non-essential travel at the start of the pandemic.

“Compared to a year ago, we actually only have 20% of the travelers we would normally see. And again, a lot of them are for essential reasons,” he said.

“Would restricting travel from other parts of the country change our number that way? Maybe.”

9 new cases, including 5 in Moncton

Public health reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the number of active cases in the province to 40.

Of these 40 cases, more than half are in the Moncton region, Zone 1, with 21 active cases. They include five new cases reported in the Moncton region: three people in their 20s, one person between 30 and 39, and one person between 40 and 49.

The two cases in the Saint John region, Zone 2, include a person aged 20 to 29 and a person aged 30 to 39.

The other two cases consist of one individual from 30 to 39 in the Fredericton region, Zone 3 and one from 50 to 59 in the Bathurst region, Zone 6.

All nine cases are self-isolating and under investigation. There are currently 31 cases investigated in the province.

The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 388 and 342 are cured. As of Wednesday, 111,716 tests have been conducted, including 296 on Tuesday.

“We have seen further cases here in New Brunswick, across Canada and around the world, so we must all act as if we have the virus” and take precautions to protect ourselves and others, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of the health.

Russell advised residents to limit the number of close contacts, keep physical distance, wear a mask, stay home if sick, and “get tested even if you have mild symptoms.”

Exposure notification for two Air Canada flights

Public health has identified a positive case in a traveler who may have been contagious on November 15 on the following flights:

• Air Canada Flight 8954 – Winnipeg to Toronto arrived at 8:16 pm

• Air Canada Flight 8918 – Toronto to Moncton arrived at 11:43 pm

Public health has said that anyone who has traveled on these flights should automatically monitor symptoms for 14 days after the flight, and if they develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate and do the self-assessment online or call 811 to take the test.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 can take an online self-assessment test.

Public health states that symptoms exhibited by people with COVID-19 include:

• A fever above 38 C.

• A new cough or a worsening of chronic cough.

• Burning throat.

• Rhinorrhea.

• Headache.

• New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.

• Difficult breathing.

In children, symptoms also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.

People with any of these symptoms should: