News Release

EDITOR’S NOTE: There will be no COVID-19 news release or dashboard update Dec. 25-26 or Jan. 1-2. Information from those days will be provided on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, respectively.

FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswickers are reminded to protect our most vulnerable, to  keep holiday gatherings as small as possible and use rapid tests to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19, particularly the more contagious Omicron variant.

Public Health reported 174 recoveries and 265 new cases of COVID-19.

There are 15 people in intensive care and another 19 are in hospital for a total of 34 people hospitalized. Of those in hospital, 21 are over the age of 60 and 12 people are on a ventilator. No one under 19 is currently hospitalized. The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Risks continue to be high, particularly for vulnerable people such as older people and those with other health conditions. New Brunswickers are encouraged to protect each other by minimizing interaction with those most at risk.

The rate of people hospitalized and in ICU, as well as new cases, continues to most greatly impact people who are unvaccinated. Information about the rates of cases and hospitalizations based on vaccination status, the age and origin of new cases, and additional information, is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

While hospitalizations to date involving the Omicron variant remain relatively stable, exponential growth in cases continues to put healthcare at risk, not just due to COVID-19 but for all other healthcare needs. For everyone’s health, New Brunswickers are asked to do all they can, including, if possible, limiting movement and contacts, to help slow the spread of the virus, which is in all areas of the province.      

Of the new cases today, 85 are in Zone 1 (Moncton region), 97 are in Zone 2 (Saint John region), 39 are in Zone 3 (Fredericton region), 23 are in Zone 4 (Edmundston region), five are in Zone 5 (Campbellton region), five are in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) and 11 are in Zone 7 (Miramichi region).

To date, 147 cases have been confirmed to be the Omicron variant. At least one case of the variant has been identified in all seven health zones in New Brunswick and none of these 147 cases are hospitalized.

Public Health has confirmed a person 70-79 in Zone 2 (Saint John region) has died as a result of COVID-19.

Public Health reported today that 82.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 89.9 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine and 17.8 per cent have received a booster dose.

Learn more:

All of New Brunswick is currently in the Level 1 phase of the winter plan to manage COVID-19. More information on the plan, including the additional temporary measures, is available online.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines including booking your first, second dose or your booster dose is available at www.gnb.ca/COVID19vaccine.

Rapid-test kits continue to be available across the province. More information on the rapid-test kits program and pickup locations is available online.

Potential public exposure locations and dates are listed online. A map of potential public exposures can also be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Information on cases in schools and daycares is available on the Healthy and Safe Schools website.

Any household in New Brunswick with a positive case of COVID-19 must isolate for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals advised by Public Health or a physician, including confirmed cases of COVID-19, must isolate. More information about isolation is available online.

Information and resources to help New Brunswickers live with COVID-19 is available on the COVID-19 guidance and resources webpage.

Guidance on public health measures, restrictions and the mandatory order are available online.

Information about testing, including booking PCR tests and using rapid tests, is available at www.gnb.ca/GetTestedCOVID19.

Travellers, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, must register their travel with the travel registration program.