Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They can cause illness ranging from mild symptoms, like the common cold, to more severe illness such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.

Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu.

Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19.

Symptoms have included:

• Fever above 38 degrees Celsius
• A new cough, or worsening chronic cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Headache
• A new onset of fatigue
• A new onset of muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• loss of sense of taste
• loss of sense of smell
• In children, purple markings on the fingers and toes
• difficulty breathing

In severe cases, infection can lead to death.

Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:

• respiratory droplets that are spread when you cough or sneeze
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands

Current information indicates that a person may develop symptoms up to 14 days after exposure to COVID-19.

Guidance is based on current knowledge of the virus and other viral respiratory infections.

Pregnancy

• When you are pregnant, you may be more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
• Pregnant health care personnel should follow recommended infection prevention and control practices in health care settings.
• Pregnant healthcare personnel should follow risk assessment and infection control guidelines for healthcare personnel exposed to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Health care facilities may want to consider limiting exposure of pregnant health care personnel to patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, especially during higher risk procedures (e.g., aerosol-generating procedures).
• If you are pregnant, the following advice will help reduce your risk of infection and help prevent the spread of infections:
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
  • avoid close contact with people who are sick;
  • when coughing or sneezing cover your mouth and nose with your arms or tissue
  • wash your hands and dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage
  • avoid contact with people who are sick
  • stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
  • clean the following high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water):
    • toys
    • toilets
    • phones
    • electronics
    • door handles
    • bedside tables
    • television remotes

• Contact your primary healthcare provider or TeleCare 8-1-1 if you are feeling ill.

Infant Feeding

• The virus has not been detected in breastmilk in limited studies of COVID-19.
• Breastfeeding is the safest way to feed your baby/young child.
• Breast milk has antibodies and immune factors that protect your baby’s health.
• As with other respiratory illnesses, if you are breastfeeding you are encouraged to continue.
• Expressing breast milk, either manually or with an electric breast pump, may be done if you wash your hands before and after touching your breast, the pump or bottle parts. If you are a confirmed case or a symptomatic case under investigation, someone who is well could feed the expressed milk to your baby if you are unable.
• Whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding, if you have been diagnosed or are under investigation for COVID-19 you should take precautions to prevent transmission to your baby. You should wear a mask when near your baby, including during feeding.
• If you are feeding your infant with infant formula you should keep a two-week supply on hand. Infant formula should be prepared using strict sterilization techniques, as outlined in How to Feed Your Baby with Infant Formula.
• Homemade infant formula is not recommended. These recipes may not provide the proper balance of nutrients that infants need. Homemade infant formulas can cause severe malnutrition and potentially fatal illness in infants.
• The following advice will help reduce your and your baby’s risk of infection and help prevent the spread of infections:
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
  • avoid close contact with people who are sick;
  • when coughing or sneezing cover your mouth and nose with your arms or tissue
  • wash your hands and dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage
  • avoid contact with people who are sick
  • stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
  • clean the following high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water):
    • toys
    • toilets
    • phones and electronics
    • door handles
    • bedside tables
    • television remotes

• Contact your primary healthcare provider or TeleCare 8-1-1 if you are feeling ill.

What about pets?

There is currently no evidence to suggest that this virus is circulating in Animals in Canada.

It is possible that some types of animals can be infected with COVID-19 but there is no evidence that pets or other animals can spread the virus. There are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and this is an area that remains to be studied and understood.

Until we know more, if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have a pet or other animal:

• avoid close contact with them
• practise good cough etiquette
• have another member of your household care for your animals
• limit your animal's contact with other people and animals

At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19.

While coronaviruses are a respiratory illness, these infections are not the same as those that cause influenza. The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19.

Most people with mild illness will recover on their own. Your health care provider may recommend treatment or steps you can take to relieve symptoms. For those with more severe illness, hospitalization may be required.

In general, the following advice can help reduce your risk of infection and help prevent  the spread of infections:

• Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick.  Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Practice coughing/sneezing etiquette when coughing or sneezing
  • cover your mouth and nose with your arms or tissue
  • wash your hands and dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage
• stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.

People receiving mail, packages or products are at low risk of contracting COVID-19. Surfaces frequently touched with hands are most likely to be contaminated. From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages. Since parcels generally take days or weeks to be delivered, and are shipped at room temperature, the risk of spread is low.

There is no known risk of coronaviruses entering Canada on parcels or packages.

To protect yourself from COVID-19, make sure to do the following when handling mail or packages shipped within or outside of Canada:

• thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or use a minimum 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• properly clean and disinfect surfaces

There is currently no evidence to suggest that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus. There are currently no reported cases suggesting that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. Coronaviruses need a host to grow in and cannot grow in food. People are unlikely to be infected with the virus through food.

Although food is not a host of the virus, it is possible that infected food workers or consumers could introduce the virus to food or food packaging, by coughing and sneezing, or through hand contact.

It is not certain exactly how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but studies suggest that coronaviruses may last on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions such type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment. From previous analysis, coronaviruses tend not to survive long on objects such as paper or cardboard.

If you think a surface may be infected, clean and disinfect it to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. After receiving a delivery or bringing home takeout food wash your hands with soap and water or use a minimum 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

It is always important that consumers follow good hygiene and safe food handling practices when preparing foods. As always, consumers should wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water before eating them. Thorough cooking to safe internal temperatures is expected to kill coronaviruses.

For more information on Food Safety, check out these links:

General Food Safety

Food Safety for Food Banks and Community Kitchens

Food Safety Information for Food Donors

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

While diseases can make anyone sick, some Canadians are more at risk of developing severe complications from an illness due to underlying medical conditions and age. If you are at risk for complications, you can take action to reduce your risk of getting sick from COVID-19.

Who is at high risk?

• People with medical conditions including:
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Lung disease
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
• People with weakened immune systems from a medical condition or treatment, such as chemotherapy
• Older adults

Be prepared

• Learn about COVID-19 and stay informed by visiting www.canada.ca/coronavirus
• Visit your provincial/territorial and municipal health websites to keep up-to-date about COVID-19 in your community.
• Stock up on the supplies you would need if you were to have to stay home for a few weeks, such as groceries, pet food and cleaning products.
• Talk with your health care provider about how to protect yourself and ensure you have enough of your prescribed medications and medical supplies.
• Prepare to stay connected with others by phone or email.
• Ask family, a neighbour or friend to help with essential errands (e.g., picking up prescriptions, buying groceries).
• Identify which services are available to deliver food or medications to your home.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms.

How to reduce your risk of COVID-19

• If possible, only leave your home for medically necessary appointments.
• Stay away from people who are sick.
• Avoid contact with others, especially those who have not travelled or been exposed to the virus.
• If contact cannot be avoided, take the following precautions:
  • keep at least two metres between yourself and the other person
  • Give a friendly wave instead of a handshake, kiss or hug
  • keep interactions brief
• Clean hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes and/or food with your hands.
• Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you are outside of your home.
• Avoid touching high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails and elevator buttons in public places.
• If you need to touch surfaces in public places, use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand.
• At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch often, like toilets, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes.
• To disinfect, use only approved hard-surface disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). A DIN is an 8-digit number given by Health Canada that confirms the disinfectant product is approved and safe for use in Canada.
• When approved hard surface disinfectants are not available, for household disinfection, a diluted bleach solution can be prepared in accordance with the instructions on the label, or in a ratio of 5 millilitres (mL) of bleach per 250 mL of water OR 20 mL of bleach per litre of water. This ratio is based on bleach containing 5% sodium hypochlorite, to give a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Follow instructions for proper handling of household (chlorine) bleach.
• If they can withstand the use of liquids for disinfection, high-touch electronic devices (e.g., keyboards, touch screens) may be disinfected with 70% alcohol at least daily.
• Remind others who are sick, or may have been exposed to the virus, to stay away.
• Avoid crowds and large gatherings.
• Avoid cruises and non-essential travel outside of Canada.

What to do if you get a symptom of COVID-19

• Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
  • a new cough or a chronic cough that gets worse, or
  • a fever (greater or equal to 38°C or signs of a fever like shivering, flushed skin, excessive sweating), or
  • difficulty breathing
• If you develop a symptom, stay home and call your health care provider or local public health unit and tell them about your symptoms.
• Always call ahead before going to see a health provider or health care facility so that they can keep others from being exposed.
• The following symptoms should be considered urgent:
  • significant difficulty breathing (e.g., can’t catch breath, gasping)
  • chest pain or pressure
  • new confusion or difficulty waking up
• If you develop these urgent symptoms, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19 and are at high risk for complications.

We can all do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. For more information: Canada.ca/coronavirus or contact 1-833-784-4397

Homemade masks are not medical devices and consequently are not regulated like medical masks and respirators.

Physical distancing, frequent hand washing and not touching your face are proven measures that will reduce transmission of COVID-19. These measures must be consistently and rigorously applied in all settings including when you are out in the community.

The use of community face masks (e.g., homemade cloth masks) by asymptomatic people in the community may reduce the touching of the nose or mouth with contaminated hands, although one needs to take care to not touch the face as the mask is adjusted or when pulled on and off.

Wearing a  community face mask, be a way of covering your mouth and nose to prevent respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. Wearing a mask is consistent with our recommendation to not cough into your hands and instead to cover your cough with tissues or your sleeve.

The effectiveness of using a community face mask while out in the community to prevent infection has not been demonstrated. The use of a non-medical mask must be in combination with proven effective hygiene and physical distancing measures.

There is no harm in wearing a community face mask, but one should use a well-fitted (non-gaping) mask and practice good hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask.

In light of new data about how COVID-19 spreads, along with evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in communities across the country, public health recommends that people wear a community face mask to cover their nose and mouth in the community setting when physical distancing can’t be maintained (e.g. grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.). This is to protect people around you if you are infected but do not have symptoms.

A community face mask is required whenever people are in a community setting, especially in situations where you may be near people. These settings include grocery stores and pharmacies. These community face masks are not a substitute for physical distancing. Community face mask are especially important to wear in public in areas of widespread COVID-19 illness.

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

Yes. Wearing a community face mask is an additional public health measure people must take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. CDC still recommends that you stay at least 6 feet away from other people (physical distancing), frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. A community face mask is not intended to protect the wearer, but it may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important if someone is infected but does not have symptoms.

Community face mask can be made from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost.

Community face masks or face coverings should not:

• be placed on children under the age of 2 years
• be placed on anyone unable to remove them without assistance or anyone who has trouble breathing
• be made of plastic or other non-breathable materials
• be made exclusively of materials that easily fall apart, such as tissues
• be secured with tape or other inappropriate materials
• be shared with others
• impair vision or interfere with tasks

Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for healthcare workers or other medical first responders, as recommended by Public Health Agency of Canada’s guidance.

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face mask and wash hands immediately after removing.

The Emergency Measures Act empowers the Minister of Public Safety to issue enforceable mandatory orders. We’ve taken these measures for these extraordinary times in order to protect the health and safety of all New Brunswickers. The measures in the emergency order are in support of the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s advice and we have renewed and revised them regularly in consultation with the all-party cabinet committee and Cabinet. The order is available here.

A peace officer may issue a fine in the amount of $240 plus surcharge and fees. In instances where an offence is brought to court, in certain circumstances a judge may issue a fine to an amount not exceeding $10,200 plus surcharge and fees.

Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 by making a conscious effort to keep a physical distance between each other. Physical distancing is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during an outbreak. With patience and cooperation, we can all do our part.

What does physical distancing mean?

This means making changes in your everyday routines in order to minimize close contact with others, including:

• avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings
• avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes
• limiting contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those in poor health)
• keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible

Here’s how you can practice physical distancing:

• greet with a wave instead of a handshake, a kiss or a hug
• stay home as much as possible, including for meals and entertainment
• grocery shop once per week
• take public transportation during off-peak hours
• conduct virtual meetings
• host virtual playdates for your kids
• use technology to keep in touch with friends and family

If possible,

• use food delivery services or online shopping
• exercise at home or outside
• work from home

Remember to:

• wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your face
• cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm
• avoid touching surfaces people touch often
• self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 including:
  • cough
  • fever
  • difficulty breathing

If you’re concerned you may have COVID-19:

• separate yourself from others as soon as you have symptoms
• if you are outside the home when a symptom develops, go home immediately and avoid taking public transit
• stay home and follow the advice of your Public Health Authority, who may recommend isolation
• Contact your primary healthcare provider or TeleCare 8-1-1 if you are feeling ill.

Note: The Government of Canada has implemented an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act. This order means that everyone who is entering Canada by air, sea or land has to stay home for 14 days in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. The 14-day period begins on the day you enter Canada.

• If you have travelled and have no symptoms, you must quarantine (self-isolate).
• If you have travelled and have symptoms, you must isolate.

For more information: Canada.ca/coronavirus 1-833-784-4397

Yes. All businesses and employers are expected to follow Public Health guidelines in place including the requirement to take every reasonable step to ensure minimal interaction of people within two metres of each other. 

A bubble is one household unit — the people that you live with. It can be made up of just one person or it can be made up of a combination of roommates, parents, siblings, grandparents, children and/or a significant other.

In an effort to reduce social isolation, especially for those living alone, your household can join up with one other household, if both households mutually agree.

The selection made is not interchangeable. For example, a family can now go visit grandparents, while another family could bring in a babysitter.

You must not have close contact with anyone else. You cannot join up with more than one household or bubble.

Moving to the recovery stage does not mean the threat of COVID-19 is gone. If we begin seeing a spike in cases we will put restrictions back in place. That is why is it extremely important that household units choose one other household only and that everyone continues to follow the guidelines set out by the Department of Health.

All households are different. Whether you live alone or in a household of five or more, you now have the option to choose to spend time with one other household. New Brunswickers are reminded to continue following public health measures including practicing physical distancing, wearing a community face mask when unable to physical distance and washing hands frequently.

No. The household you choose to partner with during this first phase of recovery, needs to remain the same household throughout the duration of this phase as we continue to monitor the presence of COVID-19 in New Brunswick for outbreaks.

The importance of maintaining parenting relationships has meant that some families have already had a two-household (or larger) bubble. Families are allowed to have their children go from one parent to another. In addition, each parent (household), may have their own bubble with one other household.

Domestic Violence can occur in all relationship types, from current or former married, common-law or dating partner, in gender-diverse relationships and at all ages – from young people to senior citizens. If your bubble isn’t safe, or if you know of someone in your community who may be at risk for domestic violence, help is available here.

Physical distancing, hand washing, surface cleaning and wearing non-medical face masks (also known as community face masks) will be the new normal until we have a vaccine.

Canadian Blood Services is continuing to urge all healthy eligible donors to book and keep appointments. The need is constant for blood, stem cells, plasma and organ and tissue donors. Your donation can help save a life. 

Blood donation and blood drives are not prohibited by the Order. However, the organizers of the blood drive must respect the Order (distancing, gatherings, sanitation, etc.) while providing such services. If the organizers feel they cannot offer this blood drive in a safe manner (respecting the Order), it cannot take place.

As of March 16: 

• Anyone asked by public health to place themselves under observation or self-quarantine are not allowed to donate for 14 days from the date of their last contact with a case or suspected case of COVID-19. 
• Anyone with a case or suspected case in their household cannot donate for 14 days after the infected person’s recovery. 
• Anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 are not allowed to donate for 56 days after full recovery from the infection. 
• Donors who have recently travelled outside of Canada should call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) when booking their appointment to confirm they are eligible. 

These measures help ensure donor centres remain islands of wellness within Canada’s health system. They are not places where sick people gather.

More information on donating and COVID-19 is available at blood.ca/covid19. To make an appointment to donate, download the GiveBlood app, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book now at blood.ca.  

Volunteers should try to limit their movement between organizations if possible, but the needs of the organization should be taken into consideration. 

When volunteering, the following measures must be adhered to:

• physical distancing,
• handwashing, 
• covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• active screening of volunteers for illness,
• restricting sick people from entering, and 
• wearing a mask. 

If an active case of COVID-19 is identified in one of the agencies, the movement of volunteers should then be restricted.

Effective Friday, July 3, residents of the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) can travel within the four provinces without the requirement to self-isolate. Atlantic Canadians travelling within the region will not need to self-isolate for 14 days. For more information on the regulations and required documentation, visit our Travel Information page.