David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks many would agree that the most telling thing about the news these days is what our Police State does not permit to be said N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/campbelltons-cluster-of-covid-19-cases.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid19-update-new-brunswick-campbellton-may31-1.5592248
5 cases of COVID-19 connected to long-term care facility near Campbellton
N.B. has 12 active cases; all are linked to doctor returning from Quebec
· CBC News · Posted: May 31, 2020 12:07 PM AT
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, delivers a COVID-19 update on Sunday, May 31. (Submitted by Tyler Campbell/Government of New Brunswick)
Four residents and a staff member at a long-term care facility are among some of the most recent cases of COVID-19 in northern New Brunswick linked to a family doctor who contracted the virus outside the province and didn't self-isolate.
New Brunswick Public Health announced three new COVID-19 cases the Campbellton region, also known as Zone 5, at a news conference Sunday. All of the new cases are individuals in their 80s.
That brings the total cluster of cases in the Campbellton region to 12, the chief medical officer of health said.
The new cases include three individuals at a long-term care facility near the northern community.
Another case, an individual in their 70s, who's also a resident at the care facility, tested positive for the virus Saturday.
Five cases total have developed at the health-care facility. Three of the five cases from the facility are in hospital, including one person in intensive care.
An employee at The Manoir de la Vallée in the neighbouring community of Atholville, N.B., tested positive for the virus earlier this week as well.
WATCH | New COVID-19 cases detected in northern New Brunswick:
Four residents and a staff member at a long-term care facility in Campbellton have tested positive for COVID-19. 1:26
About 100 people, including 57 residents could have been exposed to the worker, who was contagious during three shifts at the facility.
The facility includes independent living apartments as well as a special care home.
All staff and residents at the facility have been tested, Dr. Russell said.
All of the province's active cases are in the Campbellton region, also know as Zone 5.
"There is a possibility the virus could spread beyond that region because the virus has an incubation period of 14 days," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health.
All 12 cases are linked to a family doctor who contracted the virus in Quebec and didn't self-isolate upon his return to New Brunswick. The doctor, who has had contact with about 150 people since returning, has been suspended.
The government is urging people in the Campbellton area and those who travelled there in the last couple weeks to get tested.
"We have a two-week period ahead of us where we're going to be watching very very carefully what is happening in that region and also around the province because we know that people have left that region since the time that there have been transmission of COVID-19," Dr. Russell said.
"Every corner of the province needs to be vigilant."
Facility loses a third of staff
Ten of the 28 staff at the The Manoir de la Vallée long-term care facility left their job because of the COVID-19 outbreak."They felt it necessary to leave the facility, which is concerning because at a time like this, it's important we have everyone there to do what we can," said Premier Blaine Higgs.
Premier Blaine Higgs said The Manoir de la Vallée in Atholville, N.B., has enough staff and resources to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility. (Submitted by Tyler Campbell/Government of New Brunswick)
Despite the staff leaving, Higgs said he is not concerned about under staffing "at all."
Ambulance New Brunswick and the province's home health-care program, Extra-Mural, are on site at the facility providing additional help caring for the residents.
Province to cut down on testing
Testing sites are set up at the Memorial Civic Centre in Campbellton and the Dalhousie Inch Arran Ice Palace.Sunday is the last day of mass testing. As of tomorrow, the province will only be testing people who have two symptoms. Those who wish to get tested will have to call Tele-Care at 811.
Those who get a negative test result should monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days. It takes up to 48 hours for test results to come back.
To date, 26,172 tests have been conducted. Of the 132 confirmed cases in New Brunswick, 120 have recovered from the virus.
More than 1,300 test were processed Saturday, which is the highest single-day amount since the pandemic began.
Until last week, New Brunswick had no active cases of the respiratory disease.
294 Comments
WOW ALL THE COMMENTS JUST WENT POOF
David Amos
Methinks many would agree that the most telling thing about the news these days is what our Police State does not permit to be said N'esy Pas?
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @David Amos: or do N’esy Pas?
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Randy McNally
Reply to @David Amos: Yes. Although it is complicated for for some , there is indeed a world beyond the web spun by certain media groups
Cade Hern
How difficult could it be to seal off Campbellton temporarily to non essential travel? 7,000 people. Only 2 roads heading south to the rest of the province. Should be able to test everyone for the virus in one day.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Cade Hern: seal off everyone in their homes province wide would be best idea.
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: here comes personality number 2
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks Higgy et al know why the dude up north whom the RCMP are investigating should talk to me ASAP N'esy Pas?
Steve Brockhouse
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: What's with this ongoing use of "N'esy Pas" phrase. The French is "N'est pas".
Larry Larson
Content disabled
Reply to @Steve Brockhouse: Chiac say otherwise!
Chris Richard
Content disabled
Reply to @Steve Brockhouse: he has multi personality disorder
Chris Richard
Content disabled
Reply to @Chris Richard: not to judge a book by its cover, but you look like such a smart persin LOL
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Larry Larson: BINGO
Carlson MacKenzie
Content disabled
Reply to @Steve Brockhouse: He's a norom.
Chris Richard
Content disabled
Reply to @Carlson MacKenzie: to say the least
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Carlson MacKenzie: Methinks you resemble your remark N'esy Pas?
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: you bum
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Chris Richard: My My Aren't you witty since you changed your alphabet ID?
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @David Amos: get a haircut. Barbers are open again
Ray Oliver
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: You're building a fan club! Cuuute
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: I dont think his own family would accept him. Poor thing
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks your RCMP buddies and Higgy et al are very well aware that my latest blogs are about you and your cohorts N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks it pleasant to see that Higgy is getting along so well with his fellow Maritime Conservative Premier N'esy Pas?
Tony
Mcalbey
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks Higgy flip flops next week n'esy pas?
Johnny Almar
Content disabled
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: now you’re talking to yourself. Lol. Seek help please. I’m worried about you.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Methinks Higgy's minions made huge faux pas last week
threatening to arrest a dude and his dog Hence he and his PEI pal have
no choice but to reverse that nonsense ASAP N'esy Pas?
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: you have a lot of time on your hands you split personality weirdo
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos:
do you ever get tired of no one caring about anything you have to say ?
You would think when everyone is against you you would realise your
wrong. Guess not
Dan Stewart
Content disabled
Reply to @Chris
Richard: If in fact he has as many alter egos as it seems then I
suppose they at least care.... well maybe a few of them at least...
Errol Willis
Back to red we go...
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Errol Willis: we need to be sent back to red so we wake up.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Johnny Almar: 99.99999999% of nbers have not contracted covid19.
Back to red for what reason?
Back to red for what reason?
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: As a lesson.
James Smith
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Because Johnny is absolutely TERRIFIED.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @James Smith: hardly. I’m immune.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @James Smith: tough guy at the keyboard lol.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Errol
Willis: For Zone 5, possibly. The mayor of Campbellton has already
requested it. For other zones? Depends on whether or not we start to
see new cases there.
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: tony if you need help , reach out to me I have connections for you
<3 span="">
<3 span="">
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Errol
Willis: But not today. The GNB site's updated its case figures for
today, but their map is still showing Zone 5 as orange and the other
zones as yellow.
Donald Gallant
Reply to @James Smith:
And James would be ?
And James would be ?
James Smith
Reply to @Donald Gallant: calm, cool, collected.
Sarah Brown
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: Are you suggesting that all of us be sent back to red to teach us
all a lesson due to the reprehensible actions of one man? I think not.
David Amos
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Need I explain the term "Poof" to you?
Johnny Almar
I wonder if it has to do with the mother and daughter from Campbellton that came to the Regent Mall on Friday to shop? Le Chateau forced to close. Staff had to self-isolate lending test results. A nurse who rents to a staff member there told the Campbellton Facebook group about it and now she’s self isolated pending test results.
Or is it about the Optometrist in Grand Falls who had to close his practice after being in direct contact with a health care worker from Campbellton who was in direct contact with the doctor who had been infected.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Johnny Almar: pending test results.
I see that the nurse in Fredericton that spilled the beans on Campbellton Facebook group took it down. I wonder why?
I see that the nurse in Fredericton that spilled the beans on Campbellton Facebook group took it down. I wonder why?
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Johnny Almar: over reaction. Life goes on. Virus is here and not going anywhere.
Johnny Almar
Content disabled before I could save it (accusing me of being Tony
Mcalbey again)
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey:
David Amos
Content disabled
Mike
Hamilton
Reply to @Johnny Almar: David and his alter ego have both earned a mute from me just for spouting nonsense.
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @David Amos: if the rcmp knew about you you would be in cambpelton sphych unit. Where you should be
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @: So says some wacko without the sand to have a real name. Methinks everybody knows exactly who I am particularly the RCMP N'esy Pas Higgy?
JoeBrown
Reply to @Mike
Hamilton: I ran out of mutes soon after this new system came out. CBC
told me they were working on increasing the limits almost a year ago.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Chris Richard: Me thinks that is about perfect! Rubber room for "Just Dave"
David Amos
YO wannabe constable Ray Oliver or should I say Mr Jones aka "Borden Manitoba" methinks your buddy "abcr xo" aka Chris Richard can trust in the fact that the RCMP and legions of lawyers and bureaucrats etc. have had many copies of portions of my old "Just Dave" blog since 2005 N'esy Pas?
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @David Amos: you make absolutely.0 sence you know that right ? You make yourself look ridiculous
abcr xo (Chris Richard)
Reply to @Chris
Richard: trust me the rcmp and lawyers have no interest in you, they
would see your stuff and think your a joke. Quit thinking your
interesting
David Amos
Reply to @Chris Richard: Methinks if that were remotely true then you strange dudes with questionable IDS would see no need to harass me every chance you get. However if they wish anyone can surf the internet and figure out things for themselves without any further input from anyone. After all the Crown cannot deny the fact that I did sue more Yankee lawyers than anyone else in history long before I came home to run for a seat in the 38th Parliament N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: LOL. And that means what? Did any ever see a court room? Methinks not
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Maybe you should go back to the States. Sue some more. Show them the wiretap tapes!!!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-outbreak-legislature-adjourned-1.5588182
Campbellton's cluster of COVID-19 cases forces legislature to adjourn
MLAs are expected to return on June 9
· CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2020 12:28 PM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs said the adjournment was a precaution to allow MLAs from Zone 5 to find out if they've come into contact with the respiratory illness. (CBC)
The New Brunswick legislature has adjourned again because of a new outbreak of COVID-19 cases, just two days after reconvening with physical distancing precautions in place.
All MLAs from all four parties agreed Thursday morning to the abrupt decision to adjourn until June 9 to ensure they themselves don't contribute to the spread of the coronavirus.
The move was in response to a cluster of cases in Zone 5, the Campbellton area. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were three active cases there, the only cases in the province.
Two Liberal MLAs from the region announced Wednesday they were returning to their ridings. On Thursday morning, Speaker Daniel Guitard, whose riding includes part of Zone 5, was also absent.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the adjournment was a precaution to allow MLAs to find out if they've been infected.
"We all live in different portions of the province, we all go back to our ridings after any session, so we could become one of those that could be spreading if we had the disease," Higgs said.
MLAs look into testing as 'extra precaution'
The adjournment "gives us that gestation period to figure that out and be tested. … We're asking a lot of people to ... practise the direction of Public Health, and we can be no exception to that."The two Liberal MLAs, Guy Arseneault from Campbellton-Restigouche and Gilles LePage from Restigouche West, said in a statement Wednesday they were not showing any symptoms and did not believe they'd been in direct contact with the new cases.
Liberal MLA Guy Arseneault hasn't shown any symptoms of the virus but said he would consider getting tested as an extra precaution. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
But they said they would not remain in Fredericton and would also look into getting tested as an "extra precaution."
The legislature reconvened Tuesday for its first regular sitting day since a rushed budget vote and adjournment on March 13, in the early days of the pandemic.
Gilles LePage from Restigouche West, also hasn't shown any symptoms of COVID-19 and does not believe he has come into contact with the virus. (Jennifer Sweet/CBC)
MLAs applauded Tuesday when Guitard said it was the first legislature in Canada to resume its business with all members present.
Extra precautions were in place. Only 28 of 47 MLAs were sitting on the floor of the chamber, and their desks were spread further apart than normal. The other 19 members took part in proceedings from the upstairs public gallery overlooking the chamber.
Legislature like 'a petri dish'
Progressive Conservative government house leader Glen Savoie said all MLAs were hoping "that the worst doesn't happen and that we can contain the spread of this virus."People's Alliance leader Kris Austin compared the legislature to a petri dish that could allow the virus to spread across the province via the elected members.
But Savoie later told reporters the main reason for the adjournment was to follow the same precautions as everyone else, and to allow the government to devote its full attention to the Campbellton outbreak.
He also said there was a question of fairness: the PCs have a minority government and having the Liberals down three MLAs would put them at a disadvantage during any votes.
Green leader David Coon supported the adjournment and noted that Public Health officials had warned that new cases were likely.
Speaker Daniel Guitard, whose riding includes part of Zone 5, was absent from the legislature on Thursday. (Jacob Barker/CBC)
"This is not unexpected in some ways," he said. "We knew there would be this kind of back and forth with the virus, with cases popping up in regions."
But he said the new disruption to the legislature's work shows that other ways of sitting need to be looked at, such as the House of Commons' hybrid approach of remote, online proceedings with some MPs attending in person some of the time.
"We need the means to keep working," Coon said. "Technology today allows us to do that."
Savoie told reporters that "we do see that as feasible but it will take some time." He said MLAs could meet digitally now but the legislature still needs to find a way make that accessible to the public in both English and French, a constitutional requirement.
He said it's "a very personal choice" whether all MLAs should be tested after being in the chamber with Arseneault and LePage, but said all members should monitor themselves for symptoms.
About the Author
16 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Content disabled
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
Content disabled
BINGO JJ Carrier
Guy and Gilles have served us well on the North Shore for years so here's hoping for good news...
Wayne Wright
Reply to @JJ Carrier:
you might think that purely from a political preference. Had they
'served us' so well why is that region in such an economic predicament?
John Sollows
The Mayor of Cambellton's comments on Maritime Noon should be archived and made available n the website. She made enormous sense.
David Amos
Reply to @John Sollows: Yea Right Methinks this the same Mayor who offered no comments last week about the protest on the bridge in her town N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-campbellton-doctor-suspended-icu-1.5589855#vf-all_threads-6352400019582
Long-term care worker among 2 new COVID-19 cases in Campbellton region linked to doctor
Doctor suspended as cluster of cases now 8, including 2 in ICU, widespread testing underway
· CBC News · Posted: May 29, 2020 12:31 PM AT
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell provided a COVID-19 update to reporters in Fredericton on Friday. (Government of New Brunswick)
A long-term care worker is among two new cases of COVID-19 in northern New Brunswick linked to a family doctor who contracted the coronavirus outside the province and didn't self-isolate when he returned.
That brings the cluster of active COVID-19 cases in the Campbellton region to eight — three of them health-care workers, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced on Friday.
Two of the people who have tested positive for the respiratory disease are in intensive care, but in stable condition "at the moment," Russell told reporters during a news conference in Fredericton.
"Some may regard this as an issue that does not concern them because they don't live there or haven't visited there lately. But I need to tell you that in the strongest possible terms, this is not the case," she said.
Contact tracing shows people living outside the Campbellton region are in the circle of transmission. So the cluster "could easily spread to other regions," she said, urging people across the province to monitor for symptoms and continue to be vigilant.
A doctor cannot practise anywhere in the province without active hospital privileges, said Dr. Ed Schollenberg, the registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, the provincial licensing body that investigates complaints.
The two new confirmed cases include a person in their 60s and the long-term care worker, who is in their 30s.
The affected worker is a caregiver at the Manoir de la Vallée in the neighbouring village of Atholville, confirmed Guy Tremblay, president and general director of Groupe Lokia, which owns the special care home for seniors.
About 100 people, including 57 residents, could have been exposed before the night worker was diagnosed on Thursday, Tremblay said.
The Manoir de la Vallée in Atholville has an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
Russell — without naming the facility — said a rapid response team tested everyone on Friday and all of the residents have been isolated from each other.
The employee was reportedly contagious during three shifts at the Manoir de la Vallée, according to Tremblay.
"We are lucky because the shifts were at night. This limits the exposure, since night activities are at a minimum," he said.
In addition, the facility is for independent seniors who do not have major illnesses that require significant health care, said Tremblay. Each resident receives between one and three hours of care per day.
The employee is not exhibiting any symptoms, but is self-isolating at home and will not return to work for at least three weeks, said Tremblay.
Test offered to anyone in Campbellton who wants it
COVID-19 testing is being offered to anyone in the Campbellton region who wants it, Russell said.There are about 25,000 people in the region, also known as health Zone 5.
"The good news in this very unfortunate and challenging situation is that we have the ability to ramp up testing in a region and on very, very short notice," said Russell.
Test sites have been set up at the Memorial Civic Centre in Campbellton and the Dalhousie Inch Arran Ice Palace.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs urges people to get tested. He says people shouldn't fear coming forward if they have symptoms. 0:40
People don't need to have symptoms to be tested, but must call Tele-Care 811 or their family doctor to get an appointment.
Russell said 811 wait times are long and asked people to be patient. She expects testing will take up to a week.
The region extends from Whites Brook to the Village of Belledune, including Tide Head, Atholville, Campbellton, Dalhousie, Eel River Dundee, Eel River Bar First Nation, Balmoral and Charlo.
Premier Blaine Higgs said he doesn't want anyone to fear coming forward if they think they might have COVID-19.
"Getting the virus is not your fault," he said. "By getting tested, by self-isolating and taking the proper precautions, you are actively taking steps to protect your loved ones and your fellow New Brunswickers."
Russell made a similar plea on behalf of those who test positive, asking people not to "stigmatize … ostracize or villainize" them.
She wants everybody to feel comfortable that they will receive the care and support they need, she said. "So we really need to be compassionate at this point in time."
People angry
The premier said this "tough week" has been an important reminder that the virus is "still out there" and given the opportunity, it can spread quickly."The fight is far from over," he said, and everyone must continue to follow the directives of Public Health.
"A bad decision, such as not self isolating for 14 days after coming back to New Brunswick, as is required, has consequences," Higgs said in French.
"It has consequences for the person who made this bad decision but it also has consequences for the multiple people they come into contact with every day. And it has consequences on the communities where these people live and work."
We don't want anyone taking matters into their own hands.- Blaine Higgs, premier
Higgs said he understands people want to know how the person linked to the outbreak is being dealt with, but he urged patience while the RCMP, Vitalité and Public Health officials complete their investigations.
"I know people are upset but we don't want anyone taking matters into their own hands," he said.
"This situation is best left to the proper authorities. I trust that they will take whatever steps are appropriate."
On Wednesday, Higgs announced a "medical professional" in their 50s travelled to Quebec for personal reasons, was "not forthcoming" about the reasons for their trip upon returning to New Brunswick and "did not self-isolate as a result."
The medical professional then returned to work at the Campbellton Regional Hospital for two weeks, Higgs had told reporters, describing it as "irresponsible."
Officials have refused to identify the medical professional, but CBC News has confirmed it's a male family doctor.
Shift - NB
Campbellton Mayor reacts to new cases
The outbreak has forced Higgs to order the Campbellton region back into a stricter phase of pandemic recovery, known as the orange phase, and to delay the additional loosening of restrictions of the yellow phase the rest of the province is under until June 5.
The Campbellton Regional Hospital ER is closed until early next week, all surgeries and non-urgent health-care services have been put on hold, no admissions are being accepted and ambulances are being diverted to the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, about an hour southeast.
Border enforcement
Asked Friday what follow-up border officials would have done to ensure self-isolation rules were being followed, Higgs said the investigation will determine what information was "supplied at the border."In general, he said, the officers stop every vehicle, ask where the people are going and why, determine whether it's essential travel or not and whether isolation is required or not.
If isolation is required, they gather contact information and "many calls are made to verify the facts."
Premier Blaine Higgs responds to a question Friday about whether authorities followed up properly after a doctor crossed the border from Quebec and was supposed to self-isolate. 0:53
But it "depends on the situation," said Higgs.
"If it's a new situation, then they would be called and checked on.
"If it's a situation where it is a routine, maybe there's been a rapport that's been developed there, so you know where they're going and that's been followed up in the past and you have some reliability in that factor."
Could be 'exponential rise' in numbers
Public Health officials continue to track down people who came into contact with the positive cases, the Chief Medical Officer of Health said."This is a really big investigation that we're conducting. There are many contacts to trace," said Russell.
It is vital that anyone contacted by Public Health officials be truthful and "follow their directions to the letter," she said.
"That's how we can keep everybody safe."
If, for example, they're told to self-isolate, they should do so immediately, said Russell. "Don't make a last run to the grocery store. Please ask a friend or neighbour to do it for you."
The doctor's child is among the positive cases, the premier confirmed. The child attended two daycares in the region before being diagnosed.
The other cases include two people in their 90s, someone under 19 and someone in their 40s.
WATCH | N.B.'s chief medical officer of health says probe into new cluster ongoing:
Dr. Jennifer Russell calls for people to reserve judgment until an investigation into an outbreak in Campbellton linked to a doctor who didn't self-isolate is complete. 12:15
On Friday morning, Russell told CBC's News Network it's a "rapidly evolving situation," and there could be an "exponential rise in the number of cases very quickly."
Initial contact tracing indicated at least 150 people were potentially exposed to the infected doctor, including 50 health-care workers at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and 100 people in the community.
But Russell noted that was just the "first round" of contact tracing.
"As each new case is diagnosed, there's another round," she said.
Vitalité Health Network president and CEO Gilles Lanteigne said he expects 500 people in the Campbellton region to be tested for COVID-19 within the next couple of days. (CBC)
With three of the cases being health-care workers, "this can be very widespread."
The incubation period of the virus is about 14 days.
Until last week, New Brunswick had no active cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. All 120 people infected since the pandemic began in March had recovered.
To date, 24,169 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the province.
With files from Radio-Canada
545 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.Fred Sanford
In cases like this the guilty party should be named and shamed which might serve as a deterrent for the next selfish s o b who doesn't take this serious.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Fred
Sanford: and you’ve never spread the flu ? Just another virus. Get use
to it, it’s not going away like Higgy thinks by closing borders
Marco Bernardo
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: It's not just another virus Tony!! From various Covid-19
autopsy reports, and other research that has been done, this disease has
the greatest diversity of presentation and complications than anything
ever encountered in medicine before.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Oh So True BTW Methinks even Cardy is clever enough to find it comical that strange people presume you are me but Higgy never will N'esy Pas?
Willie Bob Billie
The doctor should have his license terminated permanently and impose heavy fines and charges of negligence with jail sentence. If the patient(s) infected by him died from the infection, his charge should be upgraded to life imprisonment. Only severe penalties would deter people from endangering others with their inconsideration and disobeying the quarantine rules.
Amajor Hall
Reply to @Willie Bob
Billie: Even worse, when his child was diagnosed positive, he and his
wife both said they did everything right and nothing to get the child
sick. Wait what?!? Did we just have another case of lack of integrity on
the front lines?!?
Don Smith
Reply to @Willie Bob Billie:
He's A Baddd Boy!
Just Par for The Course!
In Ontario there's multiple Hospitals that declared all their returning march Break Employee's Essential Workers & forced them back to work without testing apon their return. This include the world famous Mount Sinai among many others. There's even one that released a formal policy to report to work even if they tested positive for the virus.
He's A Baddd Boy!
Just Par for The Course!
In Ontario there's multiple Hospitals that declared all their returning march Break Employee's Essential Workers & forced them back to work without testing apon their return. This include the world famous Mount Sinai among many others. There's even one that released a formal policy to report to work even if they tested positive for the virus.
Charles Waggon
Reply to @Willie Bob Billie: licence -spelling- is Canadian
Ray Oliver
Content disabled
Reply to @Charles Waggon: You have an interesting life
David Amos
Content disabled
Charles Waggon
All 120 people infected since the pandemic began in March had recovered.
But never mind that, let's ramp up the fear factor.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Charles
Waggon: And we are about to potentially get that many from one selfish
"you know what" who will wash away all the progress and opening of the
economy we've made. You and your "only the flu" talk isn't gonna
convince our Govt otherwise they'll lock it back up.
Jan Toffe
Reply to @Charles Waggon: I am more afraid of the government than I am of Covid.
I am more afraid of all the fearful people than I am of Covid.
I am more afraid of all the fearful people than I am of Covid.
DJ Redfern
Reply to @Charles Waggon:
Afraid? you should be very afraid, this virus can strike anyone, anywhere...
Have you any concept of what is happening with the virus outside of N.B.?
Afraid? you should be very afraid, this virus can strike anyone, anywhere...
Have you any concept of what is happening with the virus outside of N.B.?
DJ Redfern
Reply to @Jan Toffe:
It's Alpha Hotels like you that will diminish the will of the people to follow Government directives to contain this pandemic......
It's Alpha Hotels like you that will diminish the will of the people to follow Government directives to contain this pandemic......
Jan Toffe
Reply to @DJ Redfern: no. I know not highway fatalities the past month than virus
Jan Toffe
Reply to @DJ Redfern:
Good! There are too many sheep around. Except for Quebec and Ontario,
we have gone wayyy beyond flattening the curve. In BC where I am we
have had 160 deaths. Zero, I repeat Zero deaths under age 40, 6 deaths
under the age of 60. All the deaths are in there 80's
Which means we need to do a much better job of protecting the elderly, and then get on opening things up.
Which means we need to do a much better job of protecting the elderly, and then get on opening things up.
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @DJ Redfern:
That is fear mongering Sir. In my province of BC out of 160 deaths.
There is Zero deaths under age of 40 and 6 under the age of 60, so no I
am not afraid.
BC Government reports here. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data\
BC Government reports here. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data\
Scott Day
Reply to @Jan Toffe: "All the deaths are in there 80's "
Youngest person to die in Canada from COVID19 was a 20 year old female from Alberta AFAIK. Daughter of friends of my brother. No pre existing medical conditions.
Youngest person to die in Canada from COVID19 was a 20 year old female from Alberta AFAIK. Daughter of friends of my brother. No pre existing medical conditions.
Monique Brookes
Reply to @Scott Day:
condolences to you and their family... I fought like heîî to keep
posting about it the daughter of your friends daughter when and some
didn't believe me but I remember and haven't forgotten She was so young
:( Stay safe
Jan Toffe
Reply to @Scott Day:
In other words one death. It is sad, but... We have 1000's of fentyanl
overdose deaths, we have 2500 car crash deaths a year, we have 3000
influenza deaths a years, We have hiking accidents and deaths every
year, skiers and snowmobile avalanche deaths. So Lets stop people from
going in the back country. NO a better idea is lock down the whole
country, destroy 1000s' of lives and business's.
Roland Peterson
All because of one selfish fool.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Roland Peterson: sure no one else did the same ? Just bad luck I say.
David Amos
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Well put
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/health-care-worker-border-campbellton-covid-19-cases-1.5588168
More Campbellton COVID-19 cases linked to medical professional who didn't self-isolate
3 new cases in Campbellton region linked to man who saw patients after visit to Quebec
· CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2020 1:04 PM AT
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, described the outbreak as 'completely preventable.' (Government of New Brunswick)
Three more COVID-19 cases in northern New Brunswick have been linked to a doctor at a hospital who contracted the coronavirus outside the province and didn't self-isolate when he returned.
That brings the total cluster of cases in the Campbellton region to six, the chief medical officer of health announced Thursday.
A second health-care worker is among the new cases, said Dr. Jennifer Russell. The new cases include a person under 19, someone in their 40s and someone over 90.
Based on contact tracing, she expects to see more cases emerge in the days ahead, she said. The incubation period of the virus is about 14 days.
"The outbreak … is upsetting to everyone, including me," she said, describing it as "completely preventable."
Until last week, New Brunswick had no active cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. All 120 people infected since the pandemic began in March had recovered.
Russell said health officials don't yet know the extent of the outbreak because they're still contact tracing, but she hopes they will be able to "turn the tide" with tighter restrictions and widespread testing.
On Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs announced a medical professional in their 50s, travelled to Quebec for personal reasons, "was not forthcoming about their reasons for travel upon returning to New Brunswick and they did not self-isolate as a result."
This professional then saw patients for two weeks at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and possibly other locations, forcing Higgs to order that region back into a stricter phase of pandemic recovery, known as the orange phase.
Neither Higgs nor Russell would say whether the person was a doctor or in some other health profession, but CBC News has confirmed the individual is a male doctor.
WATCH | New N.B. COVID-19 cluster linked to doctor:
Just days after New Brunswick lifted more of its COVID-19 restrictions, many are furious about a new outbreak caused by a local doctor that is stripping those new freedoms from thousands of people. 1:51
Russell said Thursday the policy for any health-care workers who travel outside the province for any reason is to self-isolate for 14 days. "It is mandatory."
Information about the case has been passed along to the RCMP to determine exactly what took place and whether charges are warranted, Higgs told reporters during a news conference in Fredericton.
"I know many people have questions about professional ramifications, but this must be left in the hands of the professionals," he said.
Subject to disciplinary action
Gilles Lanteigne, the president and CEO of the Vitalité Health Network, told CBC News he could not talk about an individual case, but he did explain in general terms what happens in such cases."In this situation, or in a situation like this, anyone who has not fulfilled his responsibility, according to the working agreement that we have with him or her, would be subject to disciplinary action."
Dr. Ed Schollenberg, registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, the licensing body for doctors in the province, declined to comment.
Medical society 'deeply concerned'
The New Brunswick Medical Society is "deeply concerned" about the situation, said president Dr. Chris Goodyear."Physicians across New Brunswick have been working diligently for months battling the COVID-19 pandemic to protect New Brunswickers," he said in an emailed statement.
"All health-care professionals have a responsibility to abide by Public Health guidelines and the provincial state of emergency. No one is or should be exempt from the rules and recommendations put in place to protect our province."
On Wednesday, the premier had expressed frustration, saying the region is now at a higher risk "due to the actions of one irresponsible individual."
2nd part of yellow phase delayed
The province moved into the yellow phase last Friday, which allows people to extend their two-household bubble to close family and friends, more businesses to reopen, and more recreation.The rest of the province will remain in the yellow phase, but additional restrictions scheduled to be lifted Friday have been delayed until June 5, said Higgs.
They include:
- Outdoor public gatherings of up to 50 people practising physical distancing.
- Religious services, including weddings and funerals, of up to 50 people, indoors or outdoors, with physical distancing.
- Regional health authorities increase the number of elective surgeries and non-emergency services.
- Swimming pools, saunas, water parks can reopen.
- Gyms, yoga and dance studios, rinks, pool halls and bowling alleys can reopen.
- "Low-contact" team sports are permitted.
Three more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Campbellton region, health zone 5, on Thursday, bringing the total number of active cases to six. (CBC)
The province's state of emergency declaration has been extended by another two weeks, he said.
The legislature has also adjourned until June 9 to ensure the politicians don't contribute to the spread of the virus and to allow the all-party COVID cabinet committee to continue to respond to the outbreak.
The legislature had just reconvened Tuesday for its first regular sitting day since March 13, with new physical distancing precautions in place.
At least 150 people exposed
At least 150 people were exposed to the infected doctor, including 50 health-care workers at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and 100 people in the community, according to the head of the Vitalité Health Network.There are "definitely more," said Lanteigne.
He expects 500 people to be tested within the next couple of days.
Jess Day, who lives in Listiguj First Nation in Quebec, said the usual harmony with neighbouring Campbellton has turned hostile since COVID-19 shut down the border. (Submitted by Jess Day)
Jess Day, who says she is a patient of the doctor in question, said his actions have triggered widespread fear and she doesn't know if she could trust him again.
"I'm disappointed actually because he's somebody who's supposed … be knowledgeable and responsible," she said. "And you know, we have a lot of trust in our physicians and I feel like he disregarded that trust."
Day lives in the Listiguj First Nation across the border in Quebec, but doctors in the region are in short supply. For the past seven years, she would take a taxi or walk across the bridge to see her doctor.
She hasn't seen him for months, but said that's not much comfort.
"It's one of those things where it kept me up all night because I realized that this person would have been in contact with, we have no idea how many people. And then they were in contact with, we don't know how many people. And you know, it feels like the whole pandemic just started all over again."
2 municipal offices close
The Village of Nigadoo posted a notice on Facebook Thursday that someone in its municipal office has been potentially exposed to the virus. Nigadoo is located about 55 minutes southeast of Campbellton.As a precaution, the village office will be closed until June 15 unless otherwise noted.
"The health of our community is our main priority," the post states.
A couple of hours later, the village, located about 50 minutes southeast of Campbellton, posted a second notice.
"Following numerous messages and calls, we want to reassure citizens of Pointe-Verte.none of the municipal employees have COVID-19 or even have direct contact with someone with COVID-19. It is a precautionary principle. Thank you for your understanding."
Hospital closures extended
The Campbellton Regional Hospital is "basically shut down" until early next week, said Lanteigne.The ER is closed, all surgeries and non-urgent health-care services have been put on hold, no admissions are being accepted and ambulances are being diverted to the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst — about an hour southeast.
Hospital officials are also looking into whether some patients can be safely sent home early, he said.
Visitors are prohibited except for patients nearing end of life, those in pediatrics, intensive care and obstetrics, where only one designated visitor is allowed per patient.
The closure of the Campbellton Regional Hospital's ER and cancellation of all non-urgent or elective health care services will continue until early next week 'due to the high risk of transmission of COVID-19,' the Vitalité Health Network said Thursday. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Widespread testing
Testing centres will be set up Friday through Sunday at the Memorial Civic Centre in Campbellton and the Dalhousie Inch Arran Ice Palace for anyone in the region who wants to get tested — whether they've had contact with the infected doctor or not, and whether they have symptoms or not.The region, also known as health Zone 5, extends from Whites Brook to the Village of Belledune, including Tide Head, Atholville, Campbellton, Dalhousie, Eel River Dundee, Eel River Bar First Nation, Balmoral, Charlo and Belledune.
There are roughly 25,000 people in the region.
We want to take all necessary measures to prevent a second wave of the pandemic.
- Gilles Lanteigne, Horizon president and CEO
The objective is to get the most accurate picture possible of the prevalence of the coronavirus in the region, said Lanteigne.
"We want to take all necessary measures to prevent a second wave of the pandemic," he said.
"We hope that large numbers of people will participate in this initiative. It is time to hit the reset button and to give the Restigouche the chance to return to the yellow phase as quickly as possible."
Anyone who wants to get tested must call Tele-Care 811 for an appointment.
The chief medical officer of health said 219 people had been referred over the past 24 hours.
Those with symptoms or considered at-risk will be given priority.
The 50 identified staff members, including physicians, were tested for the virus Wednesday night and the results were expected later Thursday, said Lanteigne.
The 100 identified community members were expected to be tested Thursday.
As of Thursday morning, Zone 5 had the lowest number of completed COVID-19 tests in the province at 951, followed by the Miramichi region, Zone 7, at 997.
The Moncton region, Zone 1, leads the province with 7,292 tests, followed by the Fredericton region, Zone 3, at 5,289.
A total of 23,693 coronavirus tests have been performed in New Brunswick to date.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the next recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic will be delayed a week. 2:02
Officials from WorkSafeNB and the Department of Public Safety are in the Campbellton region to ensure compliance with the return to the orange phase of recovery.
Non-regulated health professionals, such as acupuncturists and naturopaths, and personal services, such as hair dressers and spas, which were allowed to open last Friday under the yellow phase, cannot operate until further notice.
Area residents should stay home as much as possible, avoid any close contact outside their two-household bubbles, and not travel outside the region.
Any non-essential travel to the area should be limited.
The two other active cases include a person in their 90s and a child who attended two daycares.
None of the individuals who tested positive for coronavirus are in hospital with COVID-19.
New Brunswickers who have travelled to the Campbellton area or been in close contact with anyone from the area are advised to monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: a fever above 38 C, a new cough or worsening chronic cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, new onset of fatigue, new onset of muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell, and difficulty breathing. In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
A COVID-19 self-assessment tool is available on Public Health's website. Anyone who develops symptoms should call Tele-Care 811 to get a referral for testing.
With files from Rachel Cave
839 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Tony Mcalbey
Higgs flip flop again
Gee Jung
a healthcare worker did not self-isolate upon return to the province, then returned to work... is this due to an overwhelming duty to patients? regardless... in healthcare, this "professional" knows the rules... this could really set the province back (and healthcare... if contact tracing identifies a lot of contacts to quarantine).
i would say "stay home when you are sick" but this virus can transmit a- or pre-symptomatically. hence the importance of the public health recommendations of self-isolation.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Gee Jung:
Their " overwhelming duty " to patients is to NOT get them infected by
anything contagious that they nefariously contracted. They broke any
obligations to their patients the moment they illegally crossed the
border .
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Lou Bell: there was no illegal crossing. You can enter Quebec and NB residents can enter NB
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: The illegal part was that they lied about the purpose of their
trip to NB because they didn't feel like self-isolating for 14 days.
Edward Bach
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
Not right now they can't. We are ALL supposed to be staying home except for essential travel. That is essential work, buying groceries, medical necessity.
Not right now they can't. We are ALL supposed to be staying home except for essential travel. That is essential work, buying groceries, medical necessity.
Mark
Leblanc
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: and then you must quarantine for 2 weeks, can you read sir?
Jeff LeBlanc
Just imagine if your family doctor was that irresponsible and ignorant to what is going on. And you find out after he/she just treated you. Wouldn't be very fun would it? Yet I still see people posting and defending his actions. Comparing it to the common flu, it's not a big deal, etc, etc. #facepalm
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: seems like flue to most like most viruses
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/covid-19-family-contract-virus-recover-public-health-maine-travel-1.5587145
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/covid-19-family-contract-virus-recover-public-health-maine-travel-1.5587145
stef dugay
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: symptoms or not he went to a hot spot his responsibility was to quarantine.
Lieschen Mueller
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: Anyone defending this so called doctor are at best part of the problem.
Jeff
LeBlanc
Reply to @stef dugay: I muted Tony. Trust me, the air seems fresher and your food will taste better.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Jeff
LeBlanc: I would not defend his actions but I would say he should not be
shamed via social media-the truth is quickly lost once social media
becomes involved and bullying anyone has no place in our society. Let
the legal system take its course.
Edward Bach
Reply to @Samual Johnston:
He has not been identified here. Is he even a he? If she reads this, I hope she feels shame.
If she has been identified elsewhere and is being attacked personally & directly, I will agree with you.
He has not been identified here. Is he even a he? If she reads this, I hope she feels shame.
If she has been identified elsewhere and is being attacked personally & directly, I will agree with you.
Mark
Leblanc
Reply to @Samual Johnston: he deserves a lot more then to be bullied
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Mark
Leblanc: As does any one who would advocate the use of bullying as a
tool to hand out “justice”. It is a shame people actually condone
bullying.
Joe Rootliek
But this Health Person got across the border to Quebec. And back again. Must have been easy. What about the border people, for letting him go through- to Que, and then, back to NB again????
Why are there so many Quebec plates in Bathurst, NB, and in other areas.
What do you have to say to get into NB- Is it too lax???
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Joe Rootliek: There need to be answers to your questions. Given to the public.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: I suspect they didn't tell the truth when they crossed the
border as to why they were crossing / had crossed . Sounds like nothing
else they said was the truth.
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: Yes Quebec borders and every province west are open. Atlantic
Canada premiers don’t abide by Canadians right to free movement
SarahRose
Werner
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: The Quebec government has not closed their provincial borders,
so it was possible for this individual to enter Quebec. They also
apparently live in NB, so it was possible for them to return to NB. If
they had told the truth - that their trip to Quebec was for personal
reasons - they would have been told to self-isolate for 14 days. They
didn't feel like doing this, so they lied and said the trip had been for
essential work. So maybe as a result of this one individual, we need
to start asking *all* individuals claiming to be returning from
essential work to show a certificate from their employer.
Monsieur
Rioux
I assume you are aware a state of emergency was declared. That usually means normal rules are suspended.
Do you believe the right to carry infectious diseases across borders overrides all else?
Do you believe the right to carry infectious diseases across borders overrides all else?
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Monsieur
Rioux: borders is a broad term, your property border, your street, your
town ? Hope you’re not leaving your property as you could spread the
virus!
Bob Smith
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: The borders are closed BUT the exemptions apply to not just
those deemed essential. They also apply to contractors who are working
for the NB gov't in a number of places. For example, the work on the SJ
port is being done by a Quebec contractor, who deemed a number of front
office people from Quebec in SJ as "essential". The term essential can
be a wide range of terms and differ from province to province.
Monsieur
Rioux
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Now you're being silly; equating one with the other. You can
cross a border in certain cases whichever border it is. There are no
checkpoints at the end of my drive. Is that what you expect next? lol
Joe Rootliek
Reply to @Bob Smith: Never was close to the border to see what was going on...
But there should be a check point, going into, Quebec on the New Brunswick side. Did not know there was not one, for people from NB entering Que.
That is a big problem.
And yes, borders should be shut tight for covid 19 unless a huge emergency is going on in persons life. If a person has an emergency, health, family loved one dying, alright, go across the border.
But there should be a check point, going into, Quebec on the New Brunswick side. Did not know there was not one, for people from NB entering Que.
That is a big problem.
And yes, borders should be shut tight for covid 19 unless a huge emergency is going on in persons life. If a person has an emergency, health, family loved one dying, alright, go across the border.
Joe Rootliek
Reply to @Bob Smith: I am thinking even there should be check points in restigouche county now. Emergency only in and out.
Joe Rootliek
Reply to @SarahRose
Werner: Well, did not know that NB did not screen people Leaving The
Province... What a huge mistake on the government.
SarahRose Werner
According to radio station County 94.1, the person is 50-59 years old and works at the Campbellton Hospital. Now since there's more than 900 people who work at that hospital (per Vitalité), that doesn't sound like an immediate give-away. But if the people who've been asked to come in for tests start comparing notes as to which hospital staff they interacted with when, I wouldn't be surprised if the community grapevine was able to identify the individual.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Already was done. He’s not from Canada.
Mary MacKenzie
Reply to @Johnny Almar: His name and photo were all over social media last night.
Samual
Johnston
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: and it should be left at that---social media is no place to be putting this sort of information
Johnny Almar
He should be exposed publicly but it’s illegal. I’ve got everything on him. Name, real reason he was in Quebec and the lie he told to Public Safety. The scale of this mind boggling. Potential for thousands of new cases from this. Will probably be hundreds.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: Apparently his name and photo are circulating on social media in
the Campbellton area, so effectively he *has* been exposed publicly.
Samual
Johnston
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: why should he be exposed publicly? if he broke the law he should
be charged and so on but thinking you have the right to pass on second
hand information or even first hand information is ridiculous. People
who would shame some one publicly are no better than a school yard bully
or worse..
Justin
Time
Reply to @Samual
Johnston: This person deserves the shame that he has brought upon
himself. A trusted medical professional who exposed his coworkers and
the general public for some unknown but unacceptable reason. Did he do
it for the money he might have lost for 14 days? A doctor making over
$300,000 dollars a year in New Brunswick should be able to afford 2
weeks off. What other reason might he have? Indefensible!
Samual
Johnston
Reply to @Justin
Time: it is sad you believe anyone deserves shaming based on info from
the CBC and social media. If it was illegal the courts should take care
of it not a social media mob.
Johnny Almar
The government is expected to announce a significant surge in cases today. Over 50 medical staff exposed, all of their patients, ER patients, and the offending doctor’s patients. This has been running rampant for 2 weeks. The potential for thousands of new cases in the province from this person. Higgs will be shutting us all down again because of one person’s actions.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Thousands, quite the exaggeration N’esy Pas?
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: No David. As a Biometrician, I can tell you it’s possible.
Hopefully the contact tracing reigns it in to a few hundred but it has a
two week advantage.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Johnny Almar: possible but not probable. It’s possible Fredericton could get a foot of snow today but probably not!
JoeBrown
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: It will blow over quickly. NFLD was able to contain the Caul
cluster of 200 within weeks, because Maritimes are close knit
communities. Higgs has everyone spooked about the unknown, but you have
to move on and get on with life.
JoeBrown
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Read this article.
Kenney begins to normalize COVID-19 as a risk mainly to the elderly
Kenney begins to normalize COVID-19 as a risk mainly to the elderly
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: You need to take a break from the Internet.
Johnny Almar
Reply to @JoeBrown: You’ll see. This is going to lock down NB and there’s going to be more cases than before.
JoeBrown
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: You mean more cases than the handful that they shut the province
down for 3 months? Come out of your cave, because AB doesn't have the
wealth to support Higgs lock down forever.
James Smith
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: And if they don’t? Will you be willing to admit it’s not as fatal
and serious we’ve been told? Or stick to your fear driven confirmation
bias that you’ve been stuck in since this all started?
stef dugay
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: they won't be shutting everything down like they did but this is
where nb is going to get hit. This was from someone who lied and saw
hundreds of patients chances are low it doesn't have cases in other
corner of the province. It was just a matter of time since we have USA
and Quebec around us, but there will thousands very quickly and summer
starting, it will be harder to contain this people want to go out
Nicolas
Krinis
Reply to @Johnny Almar: One day at a time and take some deep breaths now.
Nicolas
Krinis
Reply to @Johnny Almar: In science, we talk about probabilities, not possibilities. You're a tech, right?
Nicolas
Krinis
Reply to @James Smith: Good luck with that.
David Peters
"As of Wednesday, 23,296 COVID-19 tests have been performed in New Brunswick..."
Tested 23,296 out of 750,000...and no word on testing to see who has had it and gotten over it.
How can you know how to deal with this thing if you don't know who has it? Why are ppl giving up their liberties in the face of such inconsistencies?
Time to open up the economy and put healthcare back under the direction of actual medical doctors, imo.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @David Peters: well said
Johnny Almar
Reply to @David Peters: lol. Right. There’s at least one doctor not worthy of public trust in this matter.
Jake Quinlan
Reply to @David
Peters: Agreed. I've been on the pro-testing bandwagon since day 1.
We in NB reached a point very early in this thing most other
jurisdictions would have killed to reach, where you start doing random
surveillance testing in your population to "get out of the dark" and
have a sense of what you are dealing with. It's not wasted data, it's a
NOVEL virus. I stand to be corrected but I don't think we did this
testing once we had zero cases many days in a row. And I don't know
if this would have or have had impact on the Campbellton situation,
we'll see.
Nicolas
Krinis
Reply to @David
Peters: It's unbelievable that such measures have been imposed, with the
biggest piece of the puzzle missing. This ought to be a lesson of how
the government can be wrong and insist it is right while we lose our
civil liberties.
Let's remember this whenever the government takes away the smallest of our liberties.
This mass hysteria and the rules imposed, (which I am also following, even though I don't agree with the response), at this point, are unnecessary. We should be letting younger people go back to work and protect the vulnerable. Who are the vulnerable? People above 65 with severe comorbidities. Health care professionals who are exposed to an unusually high viral load. This outbreak started when China was hiding how many cases there were in Wuhan province. People travelled for weeks not knowing if they were carriers. Then we got the cluster of thousands getting sick at what seemed to be simultaneously. The creation of a perfect storm.
Then Italy, with its aging population and a mild flu season that spared thousands and survived only to be lost to SARS CoV 2.
This pattern of transmission, is called the "witches hat", whereby you have a huge number of people infected, and which tapers off to the tip and then, nothing. The virus goes away. Then the media did what it does best: Hyperbole, sensationalism and hysteria. The same kind that had us believing for more than a century that the Spanish flu had a mortality rate of 30-40%. Now we know it was closer to 1-2%. The same media that had us believe that everyone was starving during the Great Depression. We know better now....or not.
Let's remember this whenever the government takes away the smallest of our liberties.
This mass hysteria and the rules imposed, (which I am also following, even though I don't agree with the response), at this point, are unnecessary. We should be letting younger people go back to work and protect the vulnerable. Who are the vulnerable? People above 65 with severe comorbidities. Health care professionals who are exposed to an unusually high viral load. This outbreak started when China was hiding how many cases there were in Wuhan province. People travelled for weeks not knowing if they were carriers. Then we got the cluster of thousands getting sick at what seemed to be simultaneously. The creation of a perfect storm.
Then Italy, with its aging population and a mild flu season that spared thousands and survived only to be lost to SARS CoV 2.
This pattern of transmission, is called the "witches hat", whereby you have a huge number of people infected, and which tapers off to the tip and then, nothing. The virus goes away. Then the media did what it does best: Hyperbole, sensationalism and hysteria. The same kind that had us believing for more than a century that the Spanish flu had a mortality rate of 30-40%. Now we know it was closer to 1-2%. The same media that had us believe that everyone was starving during the Great Depression. We know better now....or not.
Justin Time
Reply to @Nicolas
Krinis: The death rate in Canada is 7.73%. That is based on number of
cases versus number of deaths. Not fake news. It is higher in Quebec and
Ontario. Sweden ,where restrictions were very limited originally, now
has one of the highest death rates of any country. 12% of those
infected. That's what your loose restrictions do for you. Only when we
have the capability to test and retest the entire population of the
province can we identify ,isolate, and control this virus until a
vaccine becomes available.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-fundy-quay-waterfront-development-municipality-brownfield-1.5587264
Fundy Quay talks gain new life with federal COVID-19 funding offer
Federal program could fund as much as 80 per cent of site preparation work on Saint John waterfront.
· CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2020 6:00 AM AT
A conceptual, mixed use model from an earlier Fundy Quay development proposal. (City of Saint John)
Long–held hopes for a major commercial residential development on a prime Saint John waterfront site could get a boost from federal programs to kick–start the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $218 million commercial/residential Fundy Quay project is proposed for the former Coast Guard site at the foot of King Street in the city's uptown.
In December, the city granted a two-year option on the six-acre (2.4 hectares) property to a private company, Fundy Quay Developments Inc., but the deal hinges on the site being construction-ready by the end of 2021.
That will require removal of contaminated soils, raising of the overall level of the site in anticipation of a rise in sea levels, and preparation for tunnel work to link buildings on the property into the city's pedway system.
Total cost for that infrastructure work is estimated at $22.7 million, on top of already approved funds to refurbish a crumbling concrete sea wall along the harbour side of the property.
In early March, Fundy Quay was left off the list of New Brunswick projects approved for joint federal–provincial funding after the Blaine Higgs government elected instead to focus on water and wastewater priorities.
But discussions between the federal, provincial and city governments reopened in the weeks after that decision and have continued on at least a weekly basis ever since.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long and New Brunswick Minister Responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, Andrea Anderson-Mason. (MP Wayne Long, Facebook)
Saint John–Rothesay MP Wayne Long says the federal government is all set to kick in with as much as 80 per cent of the funding under an enhanced bilateral infrastructure program being offered to provinces.
"I've had productive meetings with the minister, Andrea Anderson–Mason," said Long. "Absolutely positive and productive."
"I want them to pull the trigger."
Long says he's frustrated the province hasn't yet come on board with the project.
Province wants details
Reached Wednesday by CBC, Anderson–Mason would not commit to funding the required provincial share of the infrastructure costs, saying New Brunswick is still waiting for details from Ottawa before signing onto the Integrated Bilateral Agreement that opens the door to the federal funds."I want to be able to say we're there, but we still need those details ," said Anderson–Mason.
David Elias, the man leading the development proposal, says he has been asked to present information to the three levels of government on the business case and proposed phases of the project.
"The process seems to be good, the cooperation amongst the parties appears to be good. The feedback that I'm getting is that so far it probably ranks pretty high."
Develop Saint John CEO, Steve Carson says the project is an attractive one for all levels of government.
"We're cautiously optimistic that while we had a really strong and compelling case before COVID, we believe that this really is a project that ticks all the boxes," said Carson.
Carson says a public meeting on the project was being considered for this summer or fall, but may now take place online. No date has been set.
About the Author
41 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos:
Methinks my foes may find it strange that I agree with this project and
that anyone can see by now that Higgy et al are just playing political
games about the money N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/property-tax-covid-19-new-brunswick-1.5587445
New Brunswick nixes new property tax breaks for businesses, cottages
PC government unveiled tax cuts for certain properties in this year’s budget
· CBC News · Posted: May 27, 2020 6:57 PM AT
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves announced Wednesday the province will be cancelling the property tax cuts for businesses and non-owner-occupied properties he unveiled 11 weeks ago. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
Thrown into
deficit by financial turmoil unleashed by the COVID-19 virus, New
Brunswick Finance Minister Ernie Steeves has moved to cancel more than
$20 million in property tax cuts for businesses and cottages that he
unveiled in his budget just 11 weeks ago.
"We can all agree our fiscal situation is not the same as it was March the 10th, budget day," Steeves told the legislature Wednesday.
"In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will not be proceeding with the proposed property tax measures contained in our 2020-2021 budget."
The measures being undone involve proposed relief for residential properties that are subject to secondary provincial taxes, including apartment buildings, cottages and single-family homes not lived in by the owner.
That budget proposal was to reduce taxes by $140.40 per year on every $100,000 those properties are assessed to be worth.
A large apartment complex like Moncton's Eagle View Estates, which has 64 units, was in line to save $9,253 in taxes beginning in January 2021. That's the equivalent of $12 per month per apartment under the original budget proposal.
A second tax cut on commercial and industrial properties is also being withdrawn. It was worth $82.50 per year on every $100,000 of a business property's assessed value.
It would have been a substantial saving for some of the province's larger business properties, including a $142,000 tax reduction for Champlain Place in Dieppe beginning next January and a $84,715 reduction in property tax on the Irving Oil refinery.
There
was also a plan to lower the same taxes identical amounts in 2022, 2023
and 2024, providing a total of $96 million in annual property tax
relief to business and cottage properties after the fourth year.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the province could not afford the loss in revenue, but he hoped to be able to restore the tax cuts when the province's finances improve.
"It isn't the time," said Higgs.
"I'm focused on doing this, I believe in lower taxes, I believe that does help the economy, and I believe people will invest more, so it's a balancing act."
"There is indeed wisdom in the decision of the minister of finance," said Coon.
"I think that's a bad move," said Austin outside the legislature. "If we continue to tax businesses the way we've been taxing them, you can't expect the New Brunswick economy to grow."
Last week Steeves revealed New Brunswick is headed toward a $299.2 million deficit this year after his March budget originally projected a $92.4 million surplus.
"We can all agree our fiscal situation is not the same as it was March the 10th, budget day," Steeves told the legislature Wednesday.
"In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will not be proceeding with the proposed property tax measures contained in our 2020-2021 budget."
The measures being undone involve proposed relief for residential properties that are subject to secondary provincial taxes, including apartment buildings, cottages and single-family homes not lived in by the owner.
That budget proposal was to reduce taxes by $140.40 per year on every $100,000 those properties are assessed to be worth.
A large apartment complex like Moncton's Eagle View Estates, which has 64 units, was in line to save $9,253 in taxes beginning in January 2021. That's the equivalent of $12 per month per apartment under the original budget proposal.
A second tax cut on commercial and industrial properties is also being withdrawn. It was worth $82.50 per year on every $100,000 of a business property's assessed value.
It would have been a substantial saving for some of the province's larger business properties, including a $142,000 tax reduction for Champlain Place in Dieppe beginning next January and a $84,715 reduction in property tax on the Irving Oil refinery.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the province could not afford the loss in revenue, but he hoped to be able to restore the tax cuts when the province's finances improve.
"It isn't the time," said Higgs.
"I'm focused on doing this, I believe in lower taxes, I believe that does help the economy, and I believe people will invest more, so it's a balancing act."
Greens, Alliance react
In a reversal of normal responses to government initiatives, Green Party Leader David Coon praised the decision and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin condemned it."There is indeed wisdom in the decision of the minister of finance," said Coon.
"I think that's a bad move," said Austin outside the legislature. "If we continue to tax businesses the way we've been taxing them, you can't expect the New Brunswick economy to grow."
Last week Steeves revealed New Brunswick is headed toward a $299.2 million deficit this year after his March budget originally projected a $92.4 million surplus.
41 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks many folks must have noticed that the Greens and the PANB just did a huge flip flop with regards to being cheerleaders and critics of Higgy's actions N'esy Pas?
Tony Mcalbey
Another Higgy flip flop N’esy Pas?
Bryan Jones
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Me thinks so.
David Amos
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: C'est Vrai
David Amos
Reply to @Bryan Jones: Me Too
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/vaccination-bill-11-new-brunswick-cardy-anderson-mason-1.5586973
PC ministers spar over vaccination bill, but debate unexpectedly delayed
Attorney General Andrea Anderson-Mason voiced discomfort with Education Minister Dominic Cardy's bill
· CBC News · Posted: May 27, 2020 4:38 PM AT
Education Minister Dominic Cardy wants to use the notwithstanding clause to fend off court challenges to his mandatory vaccination bill. (CBC)
The long-awaited and potential decisive phase in New Brunswick's debate over mandatory vaccinations was abruptly put on hold Wednesday.
MLAs were poised to begin studying Education Minister Dominic Cardy's Bill 11, which would eliminate all non-medical exemptions to the requirement for vaccinations, including those on religious and philosophical grounds.
But the sitting of the legislative committee that was going to examine the bill was abruptly called off when Cardy had to attend a special meeting of the government's all-party committee on COVID-19 happening at the same time.
"It would be impossible to have proper debate on this bill without his presence, so committee was delayed until next Tuesday," said Caraquet Liberal MLA Isabelle Thériault.
Both the Liberals and the Greens will try to remove the bill's use of the notwithstanding clause from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. By invoking the clause, the legislation is shielded from a constitutional challenge.
Attorney general voices concern
At the same time, two Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers continue to spar over the need for the legislation.Attorney-General Andrea Anderson-Mason has repeatedly signalled she's not comfortable with the bill, and in a recent Facebook post implicitly rejected Cardy's description of its opponents.
"I was originally told that the only people who would oppose this bill would be people on the fringe," she said in a May 24 post. "That was incorrect."
Thank you!! I asked a question and wow, you responded and you (for the most part) were respectful.
What I learned: I learned that the topic of mandatory vaccinations can be an emotional issue. People who support Bill 11 can be as assertive as those who oppose it.
The vast majority of people fall somewhere in the middle.
... See More
What I learned: I learned that the topic of mandatory vaccinations can be an emotional issue. People who support Bill 11 can be as assertive as those who oppose it.
The vast majority of people fall somewhere in the middle.
... See More
She said that "being told by government what you can or cannot do with your body does not settle well."
Cardy said Tuesday he was not concerned with his PC cabinet colleague's comments.
"I think Andrea Anderson-Mason's comments have been pretty clear, and I think mine are as well, and I'm happy mine are backed by science and reason, and I'm happy to go forward on that basis," he said.
Andrea Anderson-Mason, minister of justice and attorney general, has signalled concern about the government telling people what they can or cannot do with their bodies. (Radio-Canada)
Cardy also repeated his criticisms of opponents of the bill, including protestors on the lawn of the legislature Tuesday who didn't practice physical distancing from each other.
He described them as people "who subscribe to a vague, weird Trumpian ideal of how the world works."
The unusual public spectacle of two ministers sparring over a piece of legislation would normally be untenable in the Westminster system of cabinet government.
But Higgs is allowing all his MLAs, including his ministers, a free vote on the bill.
"I don't relish the idea of two ministers duking it out in the public, but it is what it is," he said Tuesday. "They can each vote their own way."
Anderson-Mason did not respond to an interview request Wednesday.
Bill would come into effect fall 2021
Cardy's bill was introduced long before the COVID-19 pandemic and has no specific reference to the coronavirus, for which no vaccine is expected to exist until next year.The bill would eliminate philosophical, religious and other non-medical exemptions from an existing requirement that all school children be vaccinated.
Children not vaccinated for any reason other than health concerns would not be allowed to go to public schools starting in the fall of 2021.
An earlier version of the bill was harshly criticized by anti-vaccination activists who testified during three days of committee hearings last summer.
In the wake of those hearings, some MLAs from all four parties in the legislature said they were undecided whether to support the bill.
One national anti-vaccination organization threatened to challenge the constitutionality of the legislation if it passed.
Cardy responded with a new version of the bill last November that includes the use of the notwithstanding clause of the Charter.
That would exempt the bill from a Charter challenge on a number of grounds, including sections that guarantee freedom of religion.
People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he's concerned for government overreach with the current makeup of the bill. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said this week his party remains "concerned" about the preemptive suspension of Charter rights and will try to amend the bill to take out the clause. That will make it more likely that some Liberal MLAs can vote for it.
Cardy said again this week he is willing to remove the notwithstanding clause.
"For me, it wouldn't be a compromise," he said. "I have no issues with the notwithstanding clause not being included. I felt the bill would stand without it and I'm very happy to support it without it."
Vickers said the debate is really about "the best way to get the most number of people vaccinated" and said Liberal MLAs would also be able to vote freely on the bill.
Green Party Leader David Coon said his party will also introduce amendments, including one to remove the notwithstanding clause. Another would give chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell the power to decide when the bill takes effect.
Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said his party will try amend the bill to remove the notwithstanding clause. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Meanwhile, People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin sounded a sceptical note about the legislation.
He said whether the notwithstanding clause stays in the bill or comes out, it's use is an acknowledgement the legislation is not constitutional.
"For me the real question is more about people's right to choose for themselves," he said, questioning whether school staff, health-care workers and eventually other government employees will also be subjected to similar laws.
"Where do we stop?" he said. "It's about government overreach to me."
Cardy said he's optimistic that there will be enough MLAs from all parties who see the merits of the bill, especially with COVID-19 highlighting the importance of vaccinations.
About the Author
171 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story. David Amos
Content disabled
Surprise Surprise Surprise The legislature just adjourned til June 9th
David Amos
Methinks whereas the Minister of Health is a lawyer I bet some folks would like to know where Teddy Baby stands on the need for Cardy's vaccination legislation and his latest scheme about the notwithstanding clause N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Guess some politicians have less of a concern for the health of their constituents than others ! Not really surprising . Money trumps doing the right thing . Move on Ms. Anderson- Mason , you've had your 15 minutes of infamy .
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you are losing your faith in Higgy et al N'esy Pas?
Mary MacKenzie
Reply to @David Amos: If you're going to use French, perhaps type it correctly.
john smith
treating healthy people as lepars is really quite rich
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
Putting children at risk of serious consequences from preventable disease is unconscionable.
Putting children at risk of serious consequences from preventable disease is unconscionable.
David Amos
Reply to @john smith: I agree
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
No it isn’t a “false argument”.
Vaccination eradicated polio in India, where the population was “healthy” until they weren’t.
No it isn’t a “false argument”.
Vaccination eradicated polio in India, where the population was “healthy” until they weren’t.
john smith
Reply to @Aibreann Carey: bill gates is banned from india for the injuries he caused
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
No he is not.
No he did not.
Fact checked. Correct.
No he is not.
No he did not.
Fact checked. Correct.
john smith
Reply to @Aibreann
Carey: 496 000+ that are paralysed between 2000 and 2017 would say
different likelwise the folks in ukraine and many parts of africa would
join the chorus
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
That is a proven inaccuracy, favoured and promoted by antivaxxers who oppose eradication of polio for some reason that remains known only to them.
That is a proven inaccuracy, favoured and promoted by antivaxxers who oppose eradication of polio for some reason that remains known only to them.
john smith
Reply to @Aibreann
Carey: hey it syour soul man i would never stop you from injecting what
you want in your body but to force it into mine well thats a special
kinda mindset their
john smith
Reply to @john smith: you might want to find a more reputable place then snopes to get your facts bud
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
Do what you like.
Choosing to become a public health menace has consequences. Not punishment: consequences. Up to you.
Do what you like.
Choosing to become a public health menace has consequences. Not punishment: consequences. Up to you.
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
You’re talking to yourself.
You might want to fact check for yourself, accurate and reliable sources not found on YouRube or antivax rubbish.
Bud.
You’re talking to yourself.
You might want to fact check for yourself, accurate and reliable sources not found on YouRube or antivax rubbish.
Bud.
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
No it could not. There is no parallel whatsoever.
No it could not. There is no parallel whatsoever.
john smith
Reply to @Aibreann Carey: source materials not accurate enough lol ok roger
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @john smith:
Say what?
Say what?
Tom Simmons
Reply to @Aibreann Carey: LOL
John Grail
Reply to @Aibreann Carey: Nice retort. No actual evidence, just shouting "not true"
Aibreann Carey
Reply to @John Grail:
“Not true” is an accurate description of what is false.
“Not true” is an accurate description of what is false.
David Amos
Reply to @john smith:
Methinks it should not matter what Kevin Vickers says about actions
within the legislature until he gets elected and is sworn in. However
folks certainly should ask him why i sued the Queen in 2015 because of
his actions against me since 2004 N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-campbellton-nursing-home-daycare-1.5586356
'Irresponsible' 3rd COVID-19 case pushes Campbellton region back to orange recovery phase
Health-care worker in their 50s travelled to Quebec, did not self-isolate upon return
· CBC News · Posted: May 27, 2020 11:35 AM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs reminded the public of their responsibility to follow Public Health directives to help ensure a safe reopening of the province. 'Now is not the time for New Brunswickers to take unnecessary risks, which could undo all the hard work it took to get us to this point,' he said. (Government of New Brunswick)
Premier Blaine Higgs lashed out Wednesday at the "irresponsible" medical professional in the Campbellton region who contracted COVID-19 outside the province and is to blame for two other confirmed cases in the region, forcing that northern part of the province back into the orange phase of recovery.
The Campbellton Regional Hospital's emergency department has also been closed for 24 hours and all non-urgent or elective health-care services are cancelled "due to the high risk of transmission of COVID-19," the Vitalité Health Network announced.
This medical professional — Higgs wouldn't say if it's a doctor or a nurse — travelled to Quebec for "personal reasons, was not forthcoming about their reasons for travel upon returning to New Brunswick and they did not self-isolate as a result," he said.
The person, who is in their 50s, then treated patients for two weeks at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and possibly other locations.
Now the Campbellton region, also known as health Zone 5, is at a higher risk "due to the actions of one irresponsible individual," Higgs told reporters during a news conference in Fredericton.
Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said she's very concerned about people in the Campbellton region, but people right across the province could also be at risk. (Government of New Brunswick)
"If you ignore the rules, you put your family, your friends and your fellow New Brunswickers at risk. Today's case is evidence of that."
The other two cases include a person in their 90s and a child who attended two daycares.
None of them is in hospital.
The investigation has determined the three cases are a single cluster, all related to travel, said chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell.
'If charges need to be laid, they will'
Asked whether the health-care worker will face charges, Higgs said the case is still under investigation."Was this a clear, or what would appear to be apparent violation of our current rules? If indeed that is the case, you know, we will move forward with understanding and if charges need to be laid, they will," he said.
He expects to know more in the coming days, he added.
Public Health officials are still contact tracing, but Russell said she's concerned there has already been "significant contact" with the three active cases and more cases will emerge in the days ahead.
The incubation period of the virus is 14 days.
The three cases all come just five days after New Brunswick moved into phase three of its COVID-19 recovery plan, also known as the yellow phase. It allows people to extend their two-household bubble to close family and friends, more businesses to reopen, and more recreation.
Vitalité hopes to limit transmission
A few hours after the news conference, Vitalité issued a release about the temporary closure of the ER and other services.The measure is being taken to limit transmission of the virus originating from a staff member of the hospital, president and CEO Gilles Lanteigne said in a statement.
"We know that this decision will inconvenience the communities of the Restigouche and surrounding areas. However, the health and safety of our staff remain our priority," he said.
"We must do everything in our power to limit the risk of spread."
Vitalité president and CEO Gilles Lanteigne announced the Campbellton Regional Hospital's ER is closed for 24 hours and all non-urgent or elective health-care services are also cancelled to limit transmission of COVID-19 originating from a staff member. (CBC)
The statement did not indicate why the closure is for 24 hours or what will be done during that period to help limit the spread.
Vitalité asks the public to strictly follow the isolation, physical distancing, handwashing and mask usage measures to prevent a potential second wave of COVID-19.
"We cannot let our guard down," Lanteigne said. "The third case being announced today is proof of that. We must remain vigilant and work together to keep ourselves and others safe.
"Our battle is not over. Indeed. It has just begun."
Widespread testing encouraged
Mobile testing will be set up in the Campbellton region starting Thursday, said Higgs. He is encouraging everyone in the region to get tested.Zone 5 extends from Whites Brook to the Village of Belledune, including Tide Head, Atholville, Campbellton, Dalhousie, Eel River Dundee, Eel River Bar First Nation, Balmoral, Charlo and Belledune.
People can be tested even if they're not exhibiting symptoms, said Russell.
New Brunswickers who have travelled to the area or been in close contact with anyone from the area should monitor for symptoms for 14 days, she said.
Anyone who develops symptoms should call Tele-Care 811 to get a referral for testing.
Third case of COVID-19 in Campbellton is a health professional who travelled to Quebec and did not self-isolate on return. 2:51
People in the region should stay home as much as possible and avoid any close contact outside their two-household bubbles, said Russell.
She encouraged people to limit their close contacts no matter what phase of recovery the province is in until a vaccine is available.
Higgs said people should only be travelling in and out of the region for essential reasons, which doesn't include something like getting a haircut.
"We need everyone to do their own part," he said, "not trying to skirt the rules, but just saying, 'You know, for the next couple weeks for sure we can just stay at home, we can isolate in our community, we can follow the rules of public distancing, we can wear face masks, we can do the things that are appropriate to ensure that there isn't any further spread in this particular zone, and any further spread within the province.'"
Internal checkpoints being considered
Higgs opened the door to the possibility of establishing checkpoints within the province to restrict travel to and from the Campbellton region."It is being considered," he said, although it's difficult to do. Government officials are looking at how effective the measure has proven in northern Quebec.
Health-care workers in the region should refrain from working in more than one health-care facility.
Non-regulated health professionals, such as acupuncturists and naturopaths, and personal services, such as hair dressers and spas, which were allowed to open last Friday, must close again immediately until further notice.
The rest of the province will remain in the yellow phase and additional restrictions scheduled to be lifted Friday are expected to proceed.
They include:
- Outdoor public gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted with physical distancing.
- Religious services, including weddings and funerals, with of up to 50 people, can take place indoors or outdoors with physical distancing.
- Regional health authorities will increase the number of elective surgeries and non-emergency services.
- Swimming pools, saunas, water parks can reopen.
- Gyms, yoga and dance studios, rinks, pool halls and bowling alleys can reopen.
- "Low-contact" team sports will be allowed.
Campbellton Nursing Home 'COVID FREE'
The case affecting someone over the age of 90 does not involve the Campbellton Nursing Home.Public Health has not released any information about the individual, but shortly after the case was announced on Tuesday afternoon, the nursing home posted a message on Facebook to put minds at ease.
Nursing homes have been among the hardest hit by the disease in other provinces and in the United States.
''Everyday we keep the virus out is a Victory," the 100-bed facility said.
The Campbellton Nursing Home has 100 beds. (Facebook/Campbellton Nursing Home)
Higgs told reporters outside the legislature Tuesday he does not believe the elderly patient lives in a care home.
"It's my understanding they live in their own home, which is good news," he said. "But then it becomes a question of, OK, let's trace down, how were they exposed and what were kind of the scenarios leading up to that exposure?"
Higgs said he doesn't know if the origin can be determined but did note that hundreds of people in the region held a demonstration on May 19.
More than 400 residents of Campbellton, Listuguj and Pointe-à-la-Croix met at the bridge linking New Brunswick and Quebec to protest New Brunswick's travel restrictions.
Organizers of the the May 19 rally called for a bubble to be formed between Campbellton and the closest Quebec communities of Pointe-à-la-Croix and Listuguj First Nation, to allow for essential travel and family reunification. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
"And you know the pictures that I saw of that rally, social distancing wasn't top of mind," said Higgs.
"I hope that people continue to realize just how precarious a position we're in. We all feel good about opening up early and being in a good position in New Brunswick or in Canada for that matter, but we've got to realize that this could all change overnight."
Higgs said he's "very concerned" about a potential pocket of cases forming in the Campbellton region.
The fact that one of the cases involves an elderly person adds to the complexity, he said.
Daycare remains closed
The Tourbillon de Soleil daycare in Balmoral, about 20 minutes southeast of Campbellton, remains closed until further notice.It's been closed since May 21, after the infected child attended on May 19, developed a fever that night and then tested positive.
Tourbillon de Soleil daycare in Balmoral remains closed until further notice and the owner, four employees, as well as 14 children and their parents are under quarantine for two weeks. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
About 35 people the child may have come into contact with at the daycare — employees, children and their parents — have been ordered to quarantine for 14 days, the incubation period of the disease.
Children and staff at the Campbellton daycare Bouts Choux, which the child had previously attended, up until May 15, have all tested negative, said owner Cécile Castonguay.
As of Wednesday, 23,296 COVID-19 tests have been performed in New Brunswick and 120 people have recovered from the respiratory disease.
379 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story. People were continuing play dumb as they witnessed Tony Mcalbey and the other dude kept up their nonsense about who was the real me I did not try to post a single word in my defense because CBC was blocking me bigtime so I quit wasting my precious time for a while
David Amos
Content disabled
Surprise Surprise Surprise The legislature just adjourned til June 9thJos Allaire
I see that the lynching mob is unleashed and on the prowl.
Bob Smith
Reply to @Jos
Allaire: I hope you're exaggerating. Tell me, though, how exactly do you
want people to react to an incident like this? It was no accident nor
mistake by the individual and the actions undertaken.
Cindy Casey
Reply to @Bob Smith: they know we’re right! Looks like they can’t handle it !
doug kirby
Mr Higgs to shame a person in public in newspapers is beyond leadership..no matter what you have no right can u imagine what’s going to happen to that poor soul now..you set her or him on a witch hunt
Jah Simpson
Reply to @doug kirby: Mr Higgs didnt do that...the internet did
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @doug kirby: agree 100%
Chris Richard
Reply to @Jah Simpson: no actually the medical professional did it to themself.
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: wanna have coffee sometime?
Justin Time
Reply to @doug kirby:
That "poor soul" deserves everything they get. This was a doctor that
knowingly entered the province from Quebec without self isolating and
is directly linked to the two current cases and who knows how many more
that may surface in the next two weeks. This person treated patients
and attended the hospital for 2 weeks after his return. He has put
numerous people at risk and time will tell how many more he has infected
directly or indirectly.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Justin Time: essential workers don’t have to isolate
Lola Rose
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: from what I read he "did not tell the truth" about why he was traveling outside NB
Justin Time
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: This person was required to self isolate given the situation,
instead they chose to lie to personnel manning the border crossing and
as a result they have infected and exposed others and set the provinces
recovery backwards. "travelled to Quebec for "personal reasons, was not
forthcoming about their reasons for travel upon returning to New
Brunswick and they did not self-isolate as a result,"
doug kirby
Reply to @Justin
Time: well obviously you know the individual..doesn’t give you the
right..this whole state we’re in is nothing but a divide of people ...I
won’t say another thing but that man is starting to sound like the USA
Justin Time
Reply to @doug kirby:
No,in the USA this man would be a hero of Trump's for ignoring the
rules. We are doing so well in New Brunswick because people were making
sacrifices aimed at slowing or stopping the spread. Then someone
knowingly breaks the rules,and not just anyone, a trained professional
medical person. It's a divide of people for a reason ,and in order to
get people back together without causing undue suffering or possible
deaths, people to need to follow the rules. Enough said.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Justin Time:
"Public Health officials are still contact tracing, but chief medical
officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell said she's concerned there has
already been "significant contact" with the three active cases and more
cases will emerge in the days ahead."
That's the thing, this individual "treated patients for two weeks at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and possibly other locations" so only time will tell. Exponential spread can see a lot of cases really quickly from this one person.
We cannot let our guard down and we must remain vigilant and work together to keep ourselves and other NB'ers safe, and so a return to relative normalcy is possible for those in NB and for those who enter NB once a person has passed their quarantine. We can return to a sense of normalcy is we all do our part to keep the virus at bay
That's the thing, this individual "treated patients for two weeks at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and possibly other locations" so only time will tell. Exponential spread can see a lot of cases really quickly from this one person.
We cannot let our guard down and we must remain vigilant and work together to keep ourselves and other NB'ers safe, and so a return to relative normalcy is possible for those in NB and for those who enter NB once a person has passed their quarantine. We can return to a sense of normalcy is we all do our part to keep the virus at bay
Mary Smith
Reply to @doug kirby:
We went from over 100+ cases in NB to few cases here and there because
we isolated,contact traced, stayed physically distant, and we saw those
cases stop. New cases were few and with weeks between them, and proof
that if the proactive measure is taken we can loosen restrictions for
those within NB -- because if a person entering NB from a place where
the virus is out of control, and properly and proactively isolates and
quarantines upon entry, and if they do fall ill, then because of those
proactive measures taken the chains of transmission are broken, no new
hosts for the virus is found, and the virus dies with that case. The
general population stays healthy and well, able to loosen restrictions
and reap the benefits, and when that person recovers, they can join the
general population too and we'll welcome them with open arms, knowing
they've passed their quarantines.
We used to quarantine people on islands, and it worked.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quarantines-disease-outbreaks-halifax-1.5568067
Now, instead of islands, we are isolating in our own homes. It's the same principles we've always used and it works. It's not a new idea, but it is a new idea for most of us because we're just not used to it. The virus doesn't move, we move it, if we stop moving, the virus cannot find a new host, and the virus dies with that case, away from the general population. It's like a set up of dominos, and by removing a domino, you prevent the entire line-up from falling down. A stop-gap.
I hope this is not our "Patient 31" and I hope contacts are quickly isolated, contact traced, and this pocket of cases quickly contained before it's spread too far.
"Our battle is not over. Indeed. It has just begun."
We used to quarantine people on islands, and it worked.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quarantines-disease-outbreaks-halifax-1.5568067
Now, instead of islands, we are isolating in our own homes. It's the same principles we've always used and it works. It's not a new idea, but it is a new idea for most of us because we're just not used to it. The virus doesn't move, we move it, if we stop moving, the virus cannot find a new host, and the virus dies with that case, away from the general population. It's like a set up of dominos, and by removing a domino, you prevent the entire line-up from falling down. A stop-gap.
I hope this is not our "Patient 31" and I hope contacts are quickly isolated, contact traced, and this pocket of cases quickly contained before it's spread too far.
"Our battle is not over. Indeed. It has just begun."
Shaylynn Hayes
Reply to @doug kirby: Are you kidding? That 90 year old will likely die due to negligence.
Marco Bernardo
Reply to @Mary Smith:
Well spoken Mary. Because of the exponential factor at play, travel
between Campbellton and other New Brunswick communities has had me
concerned these last few days. I hope that it doesn't turn out that
this "Health Care Worker" (if I can even call him that), ends up being
New Brunswick's version of a "super spreader," given the many
interactions that he had.
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to @Shaylynn Hayes: Maybe not some older have survived-- lets hope
Kate LeBlanc
There you have it the number one reason why the virus spreads and it all stems from the arrogance of the individual who feels that what they want /need/HAVE to do takes priority over everyone else's wants needs. Seems to be a big issue in Quebec from what I am hearing from my family and friends who live there.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Kate LeBlanc: I’m hearing it’s a yawn fest outside of Montreal area.
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: yet you said earlier that there was no cases outside montreal.... hahaha smart old david
SarahRose Werner
"This medical professional — Higgs wouldn't say if it's a doctor — travelled to Quebec for 'personal reasons, was not forthcoming about their reasons for travel upon returning to New Brunswick and they did not self-isolate as a result,'" - What scummy, selfish behaviour!
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: are you calling Canadians from Quebec west who travel freely without isolating scummy selfish ?
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: yes david
Bob Smith
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: The essential professional went to Quebec on a non essential
trip, returned and ignore mandated isolation resulting in two other
cases so far. It's selfish, to say the least.
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Bob Smith: essential to NB health care
Shaylynn
Hayes
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: YES!
Mat Scott
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: be careful, you’ll upset tony. probably related or friends with the person
James Smith
Attention everyone FREAKING OUT: the goal was to flatten the curve. We have 3 cases. There are 23 hospitals in NB. The health care system is not overwhelmed. You can all RELAX.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @James Smith: and the 3 cases aren’t hospitalized but Higgy put zone 5 back to orange
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: you still going david amos?? Do you not understand what covid
is ??? Do you know that if you give someone aids and do not tell them it
is a federal.offence ?what's different here ?
John Grail
Reply to @James Smith: Yes. People are overreacting to this.
Shaylynn
Hayes
Reply to @James Smith: And when the 90 year old dies? Is it just, "sucks to suck!" to the relatives?
James Smith
Reply to @Shaylynn
Hayes: They have lived a very full life, especially considering the
average life expectancy in North America is about 78.6 years. No sense
impoverishing people who still have 40-50 years of their working lives
remaining, so that grandma can live an extra few months. This might
sound callous and insensitive, but in fact it is anything but; the
greatest good, for the greatest number of people, for the greatest
length of time. If I was 90 I'd have the opportunities of my
grandchildren at front of mind as well.
Babs Christy
Reply to @James
Smith: I have never wished ill will on anyone, but I do hope you get
your chance with this virus. You have ZERO respect for anyone other
than yourself, and I feel sorry for your “family”.
louella woods
There should be no discussion about it. This person knew the rules, she decided they did not apply to her.. She should be fined.. no question. Perhaps her name should be released so people who were in contact with her within the last two weeks can watch for symptoms.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @louella woods: essential workers don’t need to isolate per NB government guidelines
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey here comes david amos
Chris Richard
Reply to @abcr xo:
yes if they are coming here FOR WORK. He went to Quebec for whatever
reason. Just cuz hes a doctor doesnt mean he doesnt have to isolate
LOLLLLLLLLLLL. You are one smart cookie david amos. I'd love to meet you
Chris Richard
Reply to @abcr xo: I bet you dont even have a job, it's one reason he doesnt understand all of this.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @louella
woods: If her name is released, then I want every other name released,
there is no difference just because this happened now. Yes, she should
be charged, but if I am on the jury I would find her not guilty.
David Peters
I'd vote to end the emergency measures today. Maybe some restrictions on over crowding, like in hospitals, schools, airports and office buildings.
Home schooling and decentralized healthcare would be a good idea too.
Bill Mavin
Reply to @David
Peters: Nah, We have done "every body for themselves" before - like a
lot of right wing mantras - its time is past
Ron Jones
Reply to @David
Peters: A beauty parlour opened, 1 employee was positive she infected
all the other employees and 86 customers, another employee that was
infected by the 1st infected 56 customers. It only takes 1, How open do
you want it ?
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Ron Jones: completely open. Faster we get infected the better.
David
Peters
Reply to @Bill Mavin:
You're free to self isolate all you want, without infringing on other ppls liberties
You're free to self isolate all you want, without infringing on other ppls liberties
Anne Fagan-Wood
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Ok then .... name who in your family and friends that you
would sacrifice.... grandmother? Father? ...go on... name them cause
there are bound to be some if you want everyone to get infected.
Anne Fagan-Wood
Reply to @David Peters: SELFISH
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Anne Fagan-Wood: The strong will survive, new borns sometimes don’t survive a day, some live to 100 plus.
David
Peters
Reply to @Ron Jones:
The healthcare system and the entire system in general, has had many weeks to adjust to this new threat. It's time to fight through it before the entire system collapses, imo.
The healthcare system and the entire system in general, has had many weeks to adjust to this new threat. It's time to fight through it before the entire system collapses, imo.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @David Peters: agree 100%. Free democracy, NB turning into dictatorship right before our eyes
David
Peters
Reply to @Anne Fagan-Wood:
No, realistic. Take what we've learned about this virus, make some adjustments, but get the economy going. The sooner the better, imo.
Not doing so could be much more harmfull in the long run.
No, realistic. Take what we've learned about this virus, make some adjustments, but get the economy going. The sooner the better, imo.
Not doing so could be much more harmfull in the long run.
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: david amos
Bill Mavin
Reply to @David Peters: A lesson in societal responsibility might help
David
Peters
Reply to @Bill Mavin:
Might be the gov't needs to get back to protecting our liberties, instead of trying to keep us safe...as though we were children.
Might be the gov't needs to get back to protecting our liberties, instead of trying to keep us safe...as though we were children.
Tony Mcalbey
Zone 5 back to orange. Flip flop again from Higgy. All the hard work businesses have done to get back in operation just taken away again. What’s the point of that ? Either the procedures businesses were given work or don’t work. Makes no sense
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: what dont you understand sir? They would work if people would
listen. But doctors have immunity and can do what they want.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
Out in the wilderness a cry of "onward" can be heard, if you listen, from The Great and Wise Higgs.
And NB moves forward, in a fashion well known to watchers of The Great and Wise Higgs..........
2 steps ahead, and 3 back.
Out in the wilderness a cry of "onward" can be heard, if you listen, from The Great and Wise Higgs.
And NB moves forward, in a fashion well known to watchers of The Great and Wise Higgs..........
2 steps ahead, and 3 back.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Higgs and Russell have told us consistently right from the
start that *any* loosening of restrictions was conditional on case
numbers staying down and that if case numbers started to rise again,
restrictions would be tightened again. The alternative is not loosening
any restrictions anywhere in the province. Myself, I prefer trying to
loosen restrictions and then only tightening them again in the zones
that see a rise in cases.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: 3 cases is not a big deal. New York State is open to all.
Shawn Hickey
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: how exactly is this Higgs fault? He's doing a great job, some of his citizens are not!
Mary Smith
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: We don't know what we don't know when we don't know it. Those 3
cases could be 10's to hundreds, due to exponential growth, and
depending on how many contacts those cases had and the amount of
contacts those contacts had. We won't know the damage done until 14
days onward.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Mary Smith: We have to isolate, contact trace, test, and wait 14 days to see the damage done.
Tony
Mcalbey
Reply to @Mary Smith: so what’s the point of the restrictions ? the physical distance measures are a bunch of bs then
Mary Smith
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: It is not one or the other, we need both. The point of
physical distance is so that if you are infected, you only infect people
in your immediate contacts. Contact tracing travel related cases are
easier. Contact tracing community spread is fighting blindfolded. Do
you understand? I don't mean to sound rude, but it's really not one or
the other, we need to emphasize how the virus does not move, people move
it. If people stop moving, the virus dies with them.
If you come into NB from another province where the virus is running rampant, you go into proactive isolation. We used to isolate and quarantine new arrivals on islands, so any viruses would remain segregated from the general population, so that they can keep the ill contained, recover, and once well and no longer contagious, join the general population.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quarantines-disease-outbreaks-halifax-1.5568067
Instead of quarantine islands, we're trusting individuals who come in from outside NB borders to isolate and quarantine in the comfort of their homes instead of quarantine islands. This method is time tested and proven. The virus doesn't move itself, it needs a host, without a new host, the virus dies, the chains of transmission broken.
Up until now we seemed to have a really solid hold on cases, because again, the virus doesn't move, we move it, if you come into NB via travel you go into proactive isolation, so if you do end up sick, the virus dies with you rather than spreading via your contacts and via community spread.
HAD this individual proactively isolate upon entry, this scenario would not be playing out. Those two cases we had a few weeks ago stayed at those two cases - because they quarantined as they're supposed to.
If you come into NB from another province where the virus is running rampant, you go into proactive isolation. We used to isolate and quarantine new arrivals on islands, so any viruses would remain segregated from the general population, so that they can keep the ill contained, recover, and once well and no longer contagious, join the general population.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quarantines-disease-outbreaks-halifax-1.5568067
Instead of quarantine islands, we're trusting individuals who come in from outside NB borders to isolate and quarantine in the comfort of their homes instead of quarantine islands. This method is time tested and proven. The virus doesn't move itself, it needs a host, without a new host, the virus dies, the chains of transmission broken.
Up until now we seemed to have a really solid hold on cases, because again, the virus doesn't move, we move it, if you come into NB via travel you go into proactive isolation, so if you do end up sick, the virus dies with you rather than spreading via your contacts and via community spread.
HAD this individual proactively isolate upon entry, this scenario would not be playing out. Those two cases we had a few weeks ago stayed at those two cases - because they quarantined as they're supposed to.
Chris Richard
Reply to @Mary Smith: way to many words for him to understand....
Mary Smith
Reply to @Mary Smith:
Had this individual, even if they ignored this quarantine, if they had
kept their contacts small, it'd be so much easier to contact trace and
isolate. If this persons contacts did not carry on with physical
distancing in public, then there's high likelihood that it's been seeded
into the community, but time will tell. If people act now, and keep on
with physical distancing, and isolate, then we can re-actively try to
contain it, - AS WE'VE DONE SO FAR WITH NB BEFORE - remember how we went
from 100+ cases and then several weeks between new cases, and most
(all?) of those cases were travel related, isolated upon entry, and the
virus died with them, the chains of transmission broken.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Mary Smith: but how did they infect others if physical distance measures were being followed ?
Hair salons shouldn’t be shutdown again if the guidelines are being followed.
Hair salons shouldn’t be shutdown again if the guidelines are being followed.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Because this person did not follow public health measures.
Not everyone does and this person was not following other public health measures like isolating upon return from non-essential trips, so it's likely they also thought they were exempt from other precautions too. They would have infected their household and their colleagues. Not everyone is wearing a mask, and the contact tracing will determine all of these factors.
Hair salons need to be shut down because now there's a sudden spike in cases, with contact tracing under way, and it's yet to be determined how many people have been potentially exposed. One hair salon could do so much damage. There was a case where one hair salon worked while knowing she was sick and may have exposed 91 people. Now follow that through: 91 people, infecting their households, their work colleagues, their kids day cares, their friends, etc. That number grows exponentially and 1 case becomes 10's, hundreds, thousands, so, so fast due to exponential growth.
The thing was that physical distancing measures probably were NOT being followed. But again, the contact tracing will determine all of that. Now is the time to ramp up public health measures in that area, not later, and all of NB should be cautious right now. People can move freely inside NB and potentially have spread the virus along the way, and have everyone take a step back, isolate a bit more, and wait - because only time will tell who has or has not been infected in that area. You can't rush a quarantine.
Not everyone does and this person was not following other public health measures like isolating upon return from non-essential trips, so it's likely they also thought they were exempt from other precautions too. They would have infected their household and their colleagues. Not everyone is wearing a mask, and the contact tracing will determine all of these factors.
Hair salons need to be shut down because now there's a sudden spike in cases, with contact tracing under way, and it's yet to be determined how many people have been potentially exposed. One hair salon could do so much damage. There was a case where one hair salon worked while knowing she was sick and may have exposed 91 people. Now follow that through: 91 people, infecting their households, their work colleagues, their kids day cares, their friends, etc. That number grows exponentially and 1 case becomes 10's, hundreds, thousands, so, so fast due to exponential growth.
The thing was that physical distancing measures probably were NOT being followed. But again, the contact tracing will determine all of that. Now is the time to ramp up public health measures in that area, not later, and all of NB should be cautious right now. People can move freely inside NB and potentially have spread the virus along the way, and have everyone take a step back, isolate a bit more, and wait - because only time will tell who has or has not been infected in that area. You can't rush a quarantine.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Mary Smith:
As we try to open up NB, we need people coming into NB to isolate. As
we loosen restrictions, it allows the virus, if it get's seeded into the
community, to spread like wildfire. As we increase our contacts, we
increase the potential hosts if we're infected. We're opening up,
having more contact with others, allowing for a giant wave.
Once you realize you're in trouble, and there's a giant spike, it's too late, BECAUSE the virus has a 14 day incubation period, meaning you're contagious for up to 14 days before you even realize you're sick, and then all the people you've interacted with for 14 days could have gotten the virus if proactive health measures weren't taken.
We're not somehow immune to this virus now, we need to stay the course. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Once you realize you're in trouble, and there's a giant spike, it's too late, BECAUSE the virus has a 14 day incubation period, meaning you're contagious for up to 14 days before you even realize you're sick, and then all the people you've interacted with for 14 days could have gotten the virus if proactive health measures weren't taken.
We're not somehow immune to this virus now, we need to stay the course. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Mary Smith:
"The person, who is in their 50s, then treated patients for two weeks at
the Campbellton Regional Hospital and possibly other locations. Now
the Campbellton region, also known as health Zone 5, is at a higher risk
"due to the actions of one irresponsible individual"
This is bad. Really bad. The person treated patients for two weeks at the hospital and possible in other locations.
"Public Health officials are still contact tracing, but chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell said she's concerned there has already been "significant contact" with the three active cases and more cases will emerge in the days ahead"
Time will tell how many more cases, but it appears that the "significant contact" could see a second wave hit NB. Time will tell. We should not give up though - we need to step up again - we made it so cases went from 100+ to 0, we can contain the spread again. Isolate, contact trace, physical distancing, masks, washing your hands, bubble family only, don't move around NB and stay within your community.
"The investigation has determined the three cases are a single cluster, all related to travel [...] [m]obile testing will be set up in the Campbellton region starting Thursday, [...] encouraging everyone in the region [Zone 5] to get tested. People can be tested even if they're not exhibiting symptoms [...] New Brunswickers who have traveled to the area or been in close contact with anyone from the area should monitor for symptoms. People in the region are asked not to travel to other parts of the province and to avoid any close contact outside their two-household bubbles"
Stay healthy, be cautious and alert, and we'll get through this. We're all in this together. Get it together Campbellton, contain that virus!
This is bad. Really bad. The person treated patients for two weeks at the hospital and possible in other locations.
"Public Health officials are still contact tracing, but chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell said she's concerned there has already been "significant contact" with the three active cases and more cases will emerge in the days ahead"
Time will tell how many more cases, but it appears that the "significant contact" could see a second wave hit NB. Time will tell. We should not give up though - we need to step up again - we made it so cases went from 100+ to 0, we can contain the spread again. Isolate, contact trace, physical distancing, masks, washing your hands, bubble family only, don't move around NB and stay within your community.
"The investigation has determined the three cases are a single cluster, all related to travel [...] [m]obile testing will be set up in the Campbellton region starting Thursday, [...] encouraging everyone in the region [Zone 5] to get tested. People can be tested even if they're not exhibiting symptoms [...] New Brunswickers who have traveled to the area or been in close contact with anyone from the area should monitor for symptoms. People in the region are asked not to travel to other parts of the province and to avoid any close contact outside their two-household bubbles"
Stay healthy, be cautious and alert, and we'll get through this. We're all in this together. Get it together Campbellton, contain that virus!
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Agree, that a few cases do not warrant any change in opening.
If that was the case, nowhere in the world would be open.
Tony Mcalbey
Essential workers aren’t required to self isolate.
Suzy Savoy
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Not for work purposes but leisurely travel to another province and lie about it. Not the same thing.
Michael Berube
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: That is a misconception.
Bob Smith
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Yes, they are if they travel like this one did. If anyone
should understand protocols, a health care worker should.
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: oh yes they are. I am deemed essential and I would have to if I
leave NB. Hence why my company banned all travel for now. I have a
government document stating as such.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: People not required to self-isolate
Certain persons are permitted to enter New Brunswick and are not required to self-isolate:
1) Those who demonstrate they are travelling through to another jurisdiction and who agree to limit stops to food, fuel and personal needs and agree to follow the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
2) Workers who are healthy and:
a) provide or support things essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of New Brunswickers, including;
i) Commercial transportation of goods by truck, train and plane
ii) Maintenance of critical infrastructure telecommunications, transportation, data, fuel, electricity, manufacturing, water and wastewater, health and financial systems that is urgent and unplanned and where New Brunswick services are not available
Certain persons are permitted to enter New Brunswick and are not required to self-isolate:
1) Those who demonstrate they are travelling through to another jurisdiction and who agree to limit stops to food, fuel and personal needs and agree to follow the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
2) Workers who are healthy and:
a) provide or support things essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of New Brunswickers, including;
i) Commercial transportation of goods by truck, train and plane
ii) Maintenance of critical infrastructure telecommunications, transportation, data, fuel, electricity, manufacturing, water and wastewater, health and financial systems that is urgent and unplanned and where New Brunswick services are not available
Suzy Savoy
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Yes if you cross from one province to the other for work
purposes but to go for a joyride and come back, nope.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: This case demonstrates that maybe they should be.
Wayne
Wright
Reply to @Suzy Savoy: 'other than work purposes' wouldn't that include "joy ride"
Suzy Savoy
Reply to @Wayne
Wright: You don't have to self isolate if you travel in another province
to work but this guy lied about the purpose of his visit to Quebec. I
read it in another news outlet. So being a healthcare professional, he
or she knew better and should have isolated themselves when they came
back but did not.
Fred Sanford
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: They should be.
Matt Steele
Sadly , this is not really surprising . Quebec is crawling with Covid-19 ; and as long as people keep running across the border into Quebec , this is bound to happen . You would think that a Medical Professional would know better ; but maybe they just didn't care if they spread the virus back into N.B.
Bob Dobalina
Reply to @Matt
Steele: False! Montreal has lots of cases. However, Quebec is much
bigger than the city limits of Montreal. Much of QC is completely COVID
free.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Bob Dobalina: Exactly
Matt
Steele
Reply to @Bob
Dobalina: ...Wrong . Quebec has had 48,598 Covid-19 cases , more than
ALL the rest of Canada combined . Google is your friend...look it up .
Chris Richard
Reply to @Matt Steele: some people have a hard time understanding statistics.
Chris Richard
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: atleast I can use google. Check your facts before trying to make someone look dumb
Chris Richard
Reply to @abcr xo: you say I dont know how to spell my name, neither do you David Amos
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