FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government announced today that beginning Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m., people will be required to show proof of vaccination when accessing certain events, services and businesses, and anyone entering New Brunswick must preregister their travel.
“As we are in the fourth wave of the pandemic, it is imperative that we do what is needed to protect our residents while living with the reality that the virus is still with us,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “These changes are necessary to ensure that our province is able to remain in Green and avoid lockdowns, which we know are detrimental to businesses and people’s mental health. We also need to avoid overwhelming our health-care system. The vaccine is an effective tool that can help us combat this virus, but more people must get vaccinated to provide us all with better protection.”
People will need to show proof of vaccination whenever they access certain services, businesses and events, including:
· indoor festivals, performing arts and sporting events;
· indoor and outdoor dining and drinking at restaurants, pubs and bars;
· movie theatres, nightclubs, amusement centres, pool halls, bowling alleys and casinos;
· gyms, indoor pools and indoor recreation facilities;
· indoor group exercise facilities;
· indoor organized gatherings including weddings, funerals, parties (excluding parties in a private dwelling), conferences and workshops;
· indoor organized group recreational sports, classes and activities; and
· visiting a long-term care facility.
Events, businesses and services that fall under these categories must ask to see proof of vaccination and government-issued identification from all patrons and participants who are 12 and older.
Individuals who are unable to receive a vaccine due to a medical exemption will be required to show proof.
Businesses will have access to materials such as posters to inform their patrons about the new regulations. Business owners with questions about the rules may contact the Business Navigators at 1-833-799-7966 or [email protected].
Proof of vaccination may be provided by showing an immunization record or a photograph of an immunization record from a regional health authority clinic, pharmacy or Public Health. New Brunswickers can also show proof of vaccination by using the MyHealthNB portal. People who have been vaccinated outside the province may provide proof of vaccination from that jurisdiction. A QR code that can be displayed on a phone to prove that New Brunswickers have been vaccinated is expected to be available in about a month.
In addition, anyone entering New Brunswick after Sept. 21 must register their travel through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program. This includes New Brunswickers who are returning after travelling outside the province. Residents of Campobello Island who are travelling back and forth to mainland New Brunswick must register their travel, but are not required to self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. When registering, travellers must upload proof of vaccination. People who are not fully vaccinated must isolate for 14 days. They can stop isolating if they receive a negative COVID-19 test after day 10. Registration is not yet in effect, but the system will be active by Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Any individual or business that fails to follow the new regulations may be subject to fines ranging between $172.50 and $772.50.
The provincial government also announced that people who live or work in certain communal settings, such as assisted living facilities, shelters, community kitchens and addiction and mental health treatment facilities will be required to either be fully vaccinated or wear a mask and be tested regularly for COVID-19. In addition, staff at nursing homes and adult residential facilities will be required to either be fully vaccinated or wear a mask and be tested regularly for COVID-19.
52 of 63 cases not fully vaccinated
Public Health is reporting 63 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 recoveries today. Fifty-two – or 83 per cent of these new cases are not fully vaccinated.
There are 12 people hospitalized due to the virus, with seven in an intensive care unit. The number of active cases is 293.
An individual 60-69 in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) has died as a result of COVID-19. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province to 48.
“Marcia and I are saddened to learn that another person has lost their life as a result of COVID-19,” said Higgs. “On behalf of all New Brunswickers, I want to offer my sincere condolences to this person’s family and friends.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of this individual during this difficult time,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “This is a sad reminder that COVID-19 is still very much with us and we must protect ourselves and the people we care about by getting vaccinated.”
The 18 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:
· six people 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· two people 30-39;
· six people 40-49;
· two people 50-59; and
· a person 60-69.
Ten cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and eight are under investigation.
The one new case in Zone 2 (Saint John region) is a person 20-29. This case is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
The 19 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:
· four people 19 and under;
· nine people 20-29;
· three people 40-49; and
· three people 50-59.
Thirteen cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and six are under investigation.
The six new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:
· a person 19 and under;
· a person 30-39;
· two people 40-49;
· a person 50-59; and
· a person 80-89.
Two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and four are under investigation.
The 10 new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:
· four people 19 and under;
· three people 20-29;
· a person 30-39;
· a person 40-49; and
· a person 70-79.
Two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and eight are under investigation.
The four new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:
· a person 19 and under;
· a person 20-29;
· a person 30-39; and
· a person 40-49.
Two cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two are under investigation.
The five new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:
· four people 19 and under; and
· a person 20-29.
All five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.
Vaccination update
Public Health reported today that 77.2 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 85.7 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.
“If you are an unvaccinated New Brunswicker, you are 23 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than a person who is fully vaccinated,” said Russell. “This puts our health-care system under strain. The focus on caring for severely ill COVID-19 patients limits our ability to serve those with other conditions.”
If you have not yet had your first or second dose, you are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.
All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose.
Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.
A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.
Confirmed cases in schools in in Zone 1 (Moncton region)
A positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed at Riverview East School and a new positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed at West Riverview School.
The respective school communities have been notified. If you or a family member have been in close contact with a case, you will be notified by Public Health for contact tracing. If you do not hear directly from Public Health, you have not been identified as a close contact.
As per New Brunswick’s Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses. Districts have contacted families directly with specific information regarding any impact on learning, including information on home learning, if required.
Potential public exposures
Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.
15-09-21