Whereas CBC has been killing my IDs and blocking most my comments for political reasons in order to put their spin on the narrative I decided to post some my replies within my blog ONLY then email the smiling bastards what I have to say about various articles
Methinks Higgy's minions should not deny that they have bragged that they read my Tweets and blogs ans ado the RCMP N'esy Pas?
https://twitter.com/
Methinks Higgy et al are very well aware that my 97 year old Mother lives there Hence I have the right to make a some inquiries of my own N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/nb-covid-19-roundup-jennifer-russell.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/cupe-covid-isolation-pay-shannex-nursing-home-1.5823254
'Many' health-care workers working at more than one nursing home during pandemic, says CUPE
As workers try to make ends meet, union calls on province to offer leave pay when they have to self-isolate
· CBC News · Posted: Dec 03, 2020 5:11 PM AT
It's 'not unusual' for nursing home employees to work at more than one facility, even though Public Health recommends against this during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the national representative for CUPE Local 5446. (Lighthunter/Shutterstock)
Many health-care workers at nursing homes like Shannex's Tucker Hall in Saint John, where there is a COVID-19 outbreak, work at more than one facility, even during the pandemic, because they can't afford not to, says the national CUPE representative for Local 5446.
"Some of them hold jobs in multiple nursing homes. Some of them hold jobs in nursing homes and hospitals," said Tamara Elisseou.
Under provincial regulations, health-care workers cannot work at any facility where there's an outbreak and another facility at the same time, said Public Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.
"It is not recommended" they work between long-term care facilities without outbreaks, he said.
But it does happen, according to Elisseou.
"Many of the members that work at Shannex do work more than one job at more than one facility," she said, blaming "precarious" work in the province.
The Department of Social Development would not agree to an interview with CBC News, but a spokesperson said in an email that staffing is a human resource issue and not its responsibility.
The workers can range from recreation assistants, who are at the bottom of the pay grade, earning $19.44 an hour, to licensed practical nurses, who are at the top, earning $27.16 an hour, she sad.
If they can't get permanent work in one facility, they have to look for work in multiple facilities to ensure they get the hours they need to pay their bills and support their families, Elisseou said.
"That's not unusual."
Tamara Elisseou, the national representative for CUPE Local 5446, said providing administrative leave pay for health-care workers who have to self-isolate would protect all New Brunswickers from anyone choosing to hide their symptoms so they can continue to work and support their family. (Submitted by Tamara Elisseou)
There are 16 confirmed cases at the Shannex Parkland community in Saint John, as of Thursday evening. The cases include five employees and 10 residents at Tucker Hall and one employee at Carleton Hall, an independent-living retirement building.
Another 25 employees are self-isolating because of the outbreak, which was declared on Nov. 20.
Employees and residents were retested Monday and Tuesday. Shannex said tests for all residents returned negative, with only one additional employee testing positive, according to a statement from the company.
CUPE is calling for the provincial government to provide administrative leave pay for health-care workers who are asked to self-isolate.
Elisseou said "a number" of its Shannex members have been isolating since Nov. 18, using up their sick pay, despite having "multiple" negative COVID-19 tests.
Tucker Hall nursing home has 15 of Shannex's 16 confirmed cases in Saint John, including five employees and 10 residents. (Google Maps)
"What happens when they're cleared to return to work and they've used up all of their sick time in their sick leave bank and they get sick and they have no sick time left?
"They don't know how they're going to pay their bills if they can't go to work and they have no sick time. So that's concerning to many of our members," she said.
It's also "of grave concern" to the union. It wonders what will happen when a worker facing financial hardship begins to experience COVID-19 symptoms and has to make a choice between hiding their symptoms and going to work and being able to pay their bills or reporting their illness and staying home with no pay.
Offering the leave pay would prevent those sorts of circumstances from arising, said Elisseou.
"It affords protection to everybody in the province," she said.
7 Comments
Methinks Higgy et al are very well aware that my 97 year old Mother lives there Hence I have the right to make a some inquiries of my own N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-pandemic-coronavirus-1.5826465
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 6 new cases, idea of shorter quarantine period floated
Higgs, Russell discuss chance of yellow Christmas, vaccines and whether N.B. is ready to reduce quarantine
Dr. Jennifer Russell announced six new cases in New Brunswick on Thursday, and the "official end" of the outbreak in the Campbellton region, Zone 5. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Latest
- Higgs addresses enforcement complaints
- Shorter quarantine period will be reviewed
- Head of vaccine rollout plan announced
- Longer holiday break for schools rejected
- Six new cases reported in New Brunswick
- One new case at Shannex in Saint John
- Outbreak officially over in Campbellton region
- Teen with autism barred from stores without a mask
- Potential public exposure warnings for Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton
- What to do if you have a symptom
Premier Blaine Higgs and Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, are holding out hope of returning to the yellow phase soon for two zones in the province.
The Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John regions are all in the more restrictive orange phase of recovery.
At a news conference on Thursday, Russell noted that the Moncton region and Frederiction region, Zone 1 and Zone 3, will be undergoing a risk assessment on Sunday to evaluate the effectiveness of measures that were announced when they were rolled back to the orange phase last month.
"We are seeing some progress, people are following Public Health advice and measures," Russell said.
The Saint John region, Zone 2, is a bit further behind, Russell said
"I'm excited to get back to yellow too ... but every one of
us must play a role. It's urgent right now that we don't lose focus,"
Premier Blaine Higgs said Thursday during a discussion of a possible
return to yellow phase for Fredericton and Moncton regions. (Submitted by the Government of New Brunswick)
Higgs also spoke about the hoped-for return to yellow and urged New Brunswickers not to let their guard down.
"We got complacent, and that's why we wound up back in the orange zones," he said.
He said he understands and shares the longing to return to "some semblance of normal family get-togethers, noting that he won't see his daughters or grandchildren at Christmas.
"My mother will celebrate her 100th birthday, and a lot of that will be online celebrations for my family members," he said. "So I'm excited to get back to yellow too ... but every one of us must play a role. It's urgent right now that we don't lose focus."
6 new cases reported on Thursday
Dr. Jennifer Russell announced six new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Thursday.
The cases break down this way:
- One new case in the Moncton region (Zone 1), age 30 to 39
- Three cases in the Saint John region (Zone 2), including one person under age 19, one 30 to 39, and one 60 to 69, and
- Two cases in the Fredericton region (Zone 3), both in people in their 60s.
Russell also declared the COVID-19 outbreak in Zone 5, the Campbellton region, officially over.
It has been 28 days, which is two COVID-19 incubation periods, since the last confirmed case within Zone 5.
Russell thanked the community and health-care workers for the role they played in bringing the outbreak to a close.
"It really was a collective effort, everyone who self-isolated when directed, wore masks, practised physical distancing, it really helped us bring this outbreak under control quickly," she said.
COVID-19 case numbers in New Brunswick as of Thursday, Dec. 3. (CBC News)
Shorter quarantine period will be reviewed
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health, says she's aware of a U.S. move to reduce the recommended quarantine time for close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case by up to a week, but it isn't likely to happen in New Brunswick soon.
The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday it had shortened the recommended length of quarantine after exposure from 14 days to 10 — or seven days with a negative test result.
Asked about the U.S. move, Russell said her team is "studying that right now."
"It's not a new concept," she said, "but thus far in New Brunswick we haven't really felt confident that we could reduce that, although other jurisdictions have."
Russell said New Brunswick has continued to err on the side of caution to be "as safe and secure as we possibly can."
While it is possible to catch the majority of people by the 10-day quarantine timeline, "we do find there are people who come back positive on day 10 and later."
"It really is a numbers game," Russell said. "So we are going to review that information, but I don't see a move to making any changes at this point in time."
Higgs addresses enforcement complaints
Premier Blaine Higgs devoted a portion of his address at the COVID-19 briefing Thursday to "frustration" with enforcement of rules in orange phase zones.
The issue has been in the spotlight in recent days, particularly in the Fredericton region (Zone 3), where videos and photos of enforcement of mask rules have made headlines.
"I know this surveillance has been challenging, for all of us," Higgs said. "And I know it's frustrating but it's a small price to pay to get back into yellow and get back to enjoying our families."
Higgs said that while "I've got complaints too" about enforcement officials and mechanisms, the officers are "just trying to do their jobs."
"I want you to put yourself in their shoes," he said. "They're out there every day, they're taking abuse."
Asked about whether enforcement officials were directed to hand out tickets or to hand out warnings first, Higgs said he didn't give any instruction related to specific infractions.
He noted that in the three orange zones — Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John regions — a total of 2,500 sites were visited, and 120 tickets were issued.
"What we have asked our public safety officers to do is ensure that the orange zone rules are being followed," he said. "It's what they do every day, they're well-trained to be looking at infractions."
In doing so, he said, they are helping to keep New Brunswick safe.
"I'm pleased to say thus far that's the situation we're in," Higgs said. "The pandemic is not out of control and people are being protected, because everyone's doing their job."
Head of N.B.'s vaccine rollout planning announced
Greg MacCallum, director of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, will lead the province's vaccine rollout, Premier Blaine Higgs announced Thursday.
MacCallum will be working with federal officials and the military to plan the logistics, including determining locations for administering the vaccine in New Brunswick.
"However, before we can do any of that we need to know the quantities we'll be receiving, and when," Higgs said at the COVID-19 briefing. "And we don't know any of that."
Higgs said he has a call with the prime minister and premiers Thursday night, and another with Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc on Friday, "so maybe that will be answered."
Longer Christmas holiday rejected
Public school students and teachers won't get a longer holiday break this year, Education Minister Dominic Cardy said Thursday.
Cardy said he consulted Public Health before deciding against extending the break, which will run from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1.
Some teachers have complained of feeling worn out by the challenges of teaching during the pandemic and hoped for a few more days of rest over the holidays.
But Cardy said other teachers disagreed, and there is no health reason for extending the holidays beyond Jan. 1.
"I've heard from a lot of teachers who have said they are completely ready to start their work," Cardy told Radio-Canada.
Teen with autism barred from stores without a mask
A Moncton woman says she's too afraid to go out in public with her autistic son, who's exempt from wearing a mask.
Christine Roberts says her 16-year-old son, Jayden Moore, received a doctor's note for his exemption, as he's been diagnosed as moderate to high-functioning on the autism spectrum, with sensory processing disorder and high anxiety.
If he were forced to wear a mask, Jayden would have a breakdown or refuse to leave the house, Roberts said.
"He will just stop moving or sit down on the floor wherever he's at," she said. "If it's bad enough, he'll start crying."
When
the Moncton region wasn't in the orange phase, Jayden Moore would go
for walks to pass the time. (Submitted by Christine Roberts)
Roberts said it's making her life very difficult because she doesn't drive. She and her son can't take the bus because masks are required.
"I'm fearful, I'm anxious and it's not over a virus," she said. "It's over getting fined when I can't afford it."
Christine
Roberts, a single mother in Moncton, is calling on government to
provide more support for families and individuals who live with
disabilities. (Vanessa Blanch/CBC)
Masks are required in public spaces indoors and outdoors under the orange phase of COVID-19 recovery, where Moncton sits as part of the Zone 1 region health zone.
According to the New Brunswick government website, medical exemptions for masks are allowed.
When the Moncton region was in the yellow phase, Roberts would rush into a store and find the manager or staff right away to let them know of Jayden's exemption. But it didn't do much good
.
An
image posted on Facebook on Monday, appearing to show a person being
restrained by two Woodstock police officers, has generated backlash and
controversy over enforcement of orange phase rules. (John Breau)
"We're kind of jumped on by every employee."
Earlier this week, a woman in Woodstock was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after an encounter with police after she didn't show a store proof of a medical exemption from wearing mask.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy told Information Morning Moncton on Wednesday that store owners are free to insist that masks are worn on their premises
Roberts said she's frustrated and saddened by this.
"It's not business owners' responsibility to uphold my son's human's rights. It's my government."
She has written letters to Premier Blaine Higgs and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, but she hasn't heard back.
Roberts said she's still hopeful she will be able to shop for basic needs or to take her son outside for a walk, just to get some exercise.
"I really don't know what to do."
One new case at Shannex in Saint John
Results of testing done Tuesday at Shannex Parkland facility's Tucker Hall unit in Saint John have been processed and confirmed one new case of COVID-19 in an employee, Shannex said in a statement on its website Thursday.
The employee has been out of the workplace and self-isolating since Nov. 24 for being a close contact of a previously confirmed case, the statement said.
Test results for all of the residents of Tucker Hall were negative.
"At this time, we currently have a total of 16 confirmed cases: 10 residents and five employees at Tucker Hall, and one employee at Carleton Hall," Shannex said in the statement.
It noted that the residents who tested positive continue to be cared for in a special area located on Simms Court, and that they are in discussion with Public Health about re-testing.
Potential public exposure warnings for Saint John, Moncton
Public Health has warned of the following possible exposures to the virus in the Saint John and Moncton areas, including gyms, stores, bars, restaurants and on flights.
Saint John area
- Churchill's Pub on Nov. 20, at 8 Grannan St., between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Saint John.
- Picaroons on Nov. 21, at 30 Canterbury St., between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Saint John.
- Thandi's Restaurant on Nov. 21 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. 33 Canterbury St., Saint John
- Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio on Nov. 19 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., 47 Clark Rd., Rothesay
Moncton
- GoodLife Fitness on Nov. 21 at 555 Dieppe Blvd, Dieppe, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Flights into Moncton:
- Air Canada Flight 8372 on Nov. 28 from Fort McMurray to Calgary, departed 6:10 a.m
- Air Canada Flight 144 on Nov. 28 from Calgary to Toronto, departed at 11:15 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8918 on Nov. 28 from Toronto to Moncton, departed at 8:30 p.m.
- Air Canada Flight 178 on Nov. 19 from Edmonton to Toronto, arrived at 5:58 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 404 on Nov. 19 from Toronto to Montreal, arrived at 10:16 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8902 on Nov. 19 from Montreal to Moncton, arrived at 4:17 p.m.
What to do if you have a symptom
People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:
-
A fever above 38 C.
-
A new cough or worsening chronic cough.
-
Sore throat.
-
Runny nose.
-
Headache.
-
New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.
-
Difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should:
-
Stay at home.
-
Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.
-
Describe symptoms and travel history.
-
Follow instructions.
About the Author
With files from Elizabeth Fraser, Radio-Canada
CDC shortens quarantine recommendation for U.S., raising questions in Canada
Cutting 14-day time in half would be beneficial, infectious disease specialist says
· The Canadian Press · Posted: Dec 02, 2020 4:51 PM ET
Travellers check-in for their flights at O'Hare International Airport ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago on Nov. 25. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters)
The recommended quarantine time for close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case is being reduced by up to a week in the United States, but while some of Canada's health experts say a similar approach could be useful here, others aren't so sure.
The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday it had shortened the recommended length of quarantine after exposure from 14 days to 10 — or seven days with a negative test result.
Health Canada was still recommending a 14-day quarantine period as of Wednesday, but Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease specialist at McMaster University in Hamilton, says cutting that time in half would be beneficial.
"It would be super important for the sake of incentivizing people to actually quarantine after exposure," he said.
"And there's a lot of different things that could theoretically open up — getting health-care workers back to work, getting kids back to school — a lot of ways where this could ease the burden of potential exposure in society."
The CDC had previously said the incubation period for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could extend to 14 days, but the organization now says most people become infectious and develop symptoms between four and five days after exposure.
Chagla says the 14-day window was likely inspired from SARS data, where the incubation period was longer.
While isolation and quarantine are sometimes used interchangeably, Chagla says there's a difference in the terms. Isolation is for those who have tested positive, while quarantine is for people who may or may not actually have the virus, like close contacts of positive cases or those travelling into Canada. Isolation recommendations for positive cases vary, but are typically 10 days after symptom onset.
Typical course of infection
Ashleigh Tuite, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, says a change in quarantine guidance reflects our evolving understanding of COVID-19.
"If you're exposed, it takes a couple days for you to become infectious, so [seven to 10 days] should be enough to tell whether you've got the virus," Tuite said. "But of course, that's assuming your experience is reflective of the typical course of infection."
The key to the CDC's new guidance for Tuite is having the option to end quarantine at seven days with a negative test result. She suspects that's in place to stop people who have the virus but no symptoms from ending the quarantine period too early.
A positive test at Day 7 would mean that person should continue to isolate, Tuite said, while a negative result would mean they could safely end quarantine, knowing enough time has passed since exposure to confidently assume they won't still get sick.
Testing capacity challenges
Dr. Don Sheppard, the founder and director of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4), says the CDC's plan makes sense scientifically, but there would be logistical issues in testing every COVID contact in Canada who wanted to end their quarantine at Day 7.
"It's impossible to do that," he said. "It's either 14 days of proper isolation, or it's seven days with a negative test, and right now our system cannot offer seven days plus testing to the public at large."
Why one expert says Canada should look at shortening quarantine period:
Health
Canada is still recommending a 14-day quarantine period for people who
may have been exposed to COVID-19. But according to infection control
and disease specialist Dr. Michael Gardam, that duration could be
lowered given what has been learned about the disease since the pandemic
began. 1:04
Testing capacity does exist in certain situations, Sheppard said, like for health-care workers and other front-line staff that need a quicker quarantine to get back to work. He cautioned, however, that taking a test on Day 7 still means isolating for an extra day or two while awaiting results.
Quarantine also needs to be done solo in order to work, Sheppard added, warning that the CDC guidance isn't meant as a loophole for holiday gatherings if your family isolates together for seven days before an event.
Supports for people to quarantine
He used an example of military recruits in the U.S. who were told to quarantine for 14 days before reporting to camp. A handful of positive tests (0.9 per cent) were caught upon arrival, suggesting true quarantine hadn't been followed.
Those recruits were sent home while the rest underwent another group quarantine. When tested again two weeks later, the positivity rate had grown to 1.3 per cent.
"Why? Because there were people incubating and they turned positive. And those people infected others in their groups," Sheppard said.
"So if you don't do strict, single-person isolation, you don't actually break the cycle of transmission, you just pass it around in your group."
Tuite says that further illustrates the usefulness of a shortened quarantine period.
WATCH | Could the 14-day isolation period be shorter? (At 01:18:45):
_corrected.png)
Canadians put their questions about the worsening COVID-19 pandemic to experts during an interactive two-hour special, hosted by Adrienne Arsenault and Andrew Chang. 1:39:27
A mother with young children, or someone who shares a small apartment with another person will find it harder to properly quarantine for longer periods, she said, as will someone who can't afford to take a full two weeks off work.
"It really comes down to having the means to do it," she said. "Can you survive for two weeks if you're not getting income? Can you isolate in a household with multiple people?
"We need to have support in place so that people can quarantine, and that doesn't change whether it's for a week or 14 days. But it becomes much more challenging when it's for longer periods."
kim balas
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 6 new cases reported Wednesday, teachers 'stressed, anxious'
There are now 119 active cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick
· CBC News · Posted: Dec 02, 2020 12:44 PM AT
Education Minister Dominic Cardy said he has heard from 'a lot' of teachers, who said late November felt like June because of the pandemic and they're looking forward to their Christmas break to be able to recharge. (Government of New Brunswick )
Latest
- Six new cases reported on Wednesday
- New potential exposure notices for flights
- 260 people respond to Horizon callout for staffing help
- Shannex says latest test results are negative
- 100 international students feel isolated in Moncton
- Potential public exposure warnings for Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton
- What to do if you have a symptom
Public Health reported six new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick on Wednesday, including one in Edmundston (Zone 4), which has had few cases throughout the pandemic, and two in Bathurst.
Here is the breakdown:
- one person 50 to 59 in the Moncton region (Zone 1)
- one person 19 and under in the Saint John region (Zone 2)
- one person 19 and under in the Fredericton region (Zone 3)
- one person 40 to 49 in the Edmundston region (Zone 4)
- one person 50 to 59 in the Bathurst region (Zone 6)
- one person 60 to 69 in the Bathurst region (Zone 6)
All are self-isolating and their cases are under investigation.
The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 514 and 388 people have recovered. There have been seven deaths, and the number of active cases is 119, with none in the hospital.
As of today, 127,999 tests have been conducted, with 1,321 tests conducted since this time on Tuesday.
Teachers feeling 'stressed,' concerned about students
Teachers are feeling stressed and anxious throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Union says.
Rick Cuming said teachers are also expressing concern for their students, colleagues and their own family members.
"They're experiencing less preparation time," he said."They're experiencing more supervision to keep kids safe."
He said teachers have been forced to supervise kids over recess and lunch, just to make sure no one is talking while their masks are off.
Some teachers are even struggling to get someone to cover their class so they can go to the washroom.
What this year is about, is survival.
- Rick Cuming, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Union
"They really don't have any downtime whatsoever."
And now, teachers are setting their sights on Christmas vacation at the end of the month.
"They're sort of pushing through to get there."
Some students aren't even showing up to class due to the province's recent decision to roll back certain regions to the orange phase.
"That is the best place for students to get their social needs, their mental health, their overall well-being met," he said. "That's the best place for teaching to occur."
During Tuesday's news briefing, Education Minister Dominic Cardy said New Brunswick students and teachers could get an extended holiday because of the pandemic.
Rick Cuming, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Union, says teachers feel overworked and underprepared for classes because they are too busy protecting students against COVID-19. (CBC)
"It is one of the measures that we are considering right now to see if it would allow us to reduce stress for the school staff and also students and their parents," Cardy said.
"But it is only one element on a long list of things considered every day," he said.
The Christmas break is currently scheduled for Dec. 18 until Jan. 3.
Cuming said he wasn't surprised by the announcement, as this has been happening in different jurisdictions across the country.
"What this year is about, is survival," he said.
Hundreds answer Horizon callout for staffing help
Horizon Health Network says it has received hundreds of applications in response to a callout last week for retirees and students to bolster its staffing.
In a Nov. 26 tweet, the health network said it was asking retirees, students and the community "to assist with the COVID-19 outbreak should the need arise."
In an email, chief human resources director Maura McKinnon said Horizon has identified "an urgent need for staffing" at the Saint John Regional Hospital, as well as at assessment centres in Saint John and Fredericton.
As of Wednesday, 260 people had put their hand up to help, and offer letters have been sent out to 37 people so far.
Students and retired health-care professionals have been stepping up to assist since the early stages of our pandemic response, McKinnon said, noting "we have had retired physicians, clinicians and … other retirees" helping out in a variety of roles.
New hires are now coming onboard daily.
They're given mandatory e-learning and additional onsite orientation, and then will help fill a variety of roles, depending on their background experience, including: registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, personal care attendants, medical laboratory assistants, environmental services and administrative staff and pandemic screeners.
"Not all of our staffing needs require direct patient contact," McKinnon said. "We place them only in settings or environments where they are comfortable working, and within the scope of their professional expertise or applicable licence."
Shannex says latest test results are negative
Shannex says it has received the results for tests done on Monday at Howe Hall and Millidge Hall, which are part of its Parkland Saint John campus, and is "pleased to report that all results were returned negative."
Shannex Parkland has a total of 15 confirmed cases: 10 residents and four employees at Tucker Hall and one employee at Carleton Hall. Residents who tested positive are being cared for in a special area located on Simms Court, Shannex said in a statement posted on its website Wednesday.
Results for testing conducted at Tucker Hall on Tuesday are expected within 24 hours.
100 international students feel isolated in Moncton
Students and administrators at the University of Moncton say they think adequate measures are in place to limit the spread of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus.
Three positive cases were confirmed there on Monday.
Students federation president Alexandre Arseneau said there's been adequate information and limited activity on campus, but he'd like to see more resources put into mental health supports, especially for the approximately 100 international students who are essentially trapped in residence.
"If we want to prevent outbreaks, we need to make sure that these people don't feel the need to not follow the restrictions," Arseneau said.
"We need to make sure these students have all the help and everything they need."
University president and vice-chancellor Denis Prud'homme said online medical and mental health services are available to students.
Prud'homme said a survey was done at mid-term to see what was going well and what needed improvement.
He said the university administration is asking professors to help identify and refer students in need.
"We asked the profs to be aware a little bit more this year because students are not in class, but to make sure they remind the students if they have any problems to make them known so they could recommend them to the services that are available for them."
Arseneau said it's turning out to be a difficult and disappointing academic year.
"We've seen our tuition go up 16 per cent just during the global pandemic. And the quality of the education online often doesn't respect the norms."
Prud'homme defended the value of education being delivered as "fair" and "good."
"We believe that we provide the best quality in the situation of this crisis, just like every university," he said.
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 'Superspreader' event responsible for 80% of Saint John cases
- He added that it would likely improve as professors get used to remote learning technology.
The school is not currently considering offering any kind of rebate, he said, but it will try to keep fee increases for next year to a minimum, as it tries to deal with a $10 million deficit.
Potential public exposure warnings for Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton
New potential exposure warning for flight into Moncton
New Brunswick Public Health has identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on Nov. 28 while on the following flights:
- Air Canada Flight 8372 from Fort McMurray to Calgary, departed 6:10 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 144 from Calgary to Toronto, departed at 11:15 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8918 from Toronto to Moncton, departed at 8:30 p.m.
Public Health has also warned of the following possible exposures to the virus in the Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton areas, including gyms, stores, bars, restaurants and on flights.
Saint John area
- Cask and Kettle on Nov. 17, at 112 Prince William St., between 8 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., Saint John.
- Churchill's Pub on Nov. 20, at 8 Grannan St., between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Saint John.
- Picaroons on Nov. 21, at 30 Canterbury St., between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Saint John.
- Thandi's Restaurant on Nov. 21 between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. 33 Canterbury St., Saint John
- Vito's Restaurant on Nov. 16, 111 Hampton Rd., Rothesay, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Cora Breakfast and Lunch on Nov. 16 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., 39 King St., Saint John
- Goodlife Fitness McAllister Place on Nov. 16 between noon and 1 p.m. and on Nov. 18 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., 519 Westmorland Rd., , Saint John.
- NBCC Grandview campus on Nov. 16, 17, and 18 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., 950 Grandview Ave., Saint John.
- Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio on Nov. 19 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., 47 Clark Rd., Rothesay
- Big Tide Brewing Company at 47 Princess St. on Nov. 16, between 12:30 to 2 p.m., Saint John.
- Java Moose at 84 Prince William St. Nov. 16, between 2 to 2:30 p.m., Saint John.
Flights into Saint John:
Public Health identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 while on the following flights:
- Air Canada Flight 8421 on Nov. 17 and 18 from Kelowna to Vancouver, arrived at 8 p.m.
- Air Canada Flight 314 on Nov. 17 and 18 from Vancouver to Montreal, arrived at 07:11 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8792 on Nov. 17 and 18, from Montreal to Saint John arrived at 9:22 p.m.
Moncton
- RD Maclean Co. Ltd. on Nov. 16, 17 and 18 at 200 St. George St., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- GoodLife Fitness on Nov. 21 at 555 Dieppe Blvd, Dieppe, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
-
Keg Steakhouse and Bar at 576 Main St. on Nov. 17, between 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Flights into Moncton:
- Air Canada Flight 178 on Nov. 19 from Edmonton to Toronto, arrived at 5:58 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 404 on Nov. 19 from Toronto to Montreal, arrived at 10:16 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8902 on Nov. 19 from Montreal to Moncton, arrived at 4:17 p.m.
Fredericton area
- The Snooty Fox on Nov. 18 and 19, 66 Regent St., between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
- GoodLife Fitness Fredericton on Nov. 18 at 1174 Prospect St. between 10:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. Nov. 19 between 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
- The YMCA of Fredericton on Nov. 17 at 570 York St. throughout the evening.
What to do if you have a symptom
People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:
-
A fever above 38 C.
-
A new cough or worsening chronic cough.
-
Sore throat.
-
Runny nose.
-
Headache.
-
New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.
-
Difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should:
-
Stay at home.
-
Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.
-
Describe symptoms and travel history.
-
Follow instructions.
About the Author
https://twitter.com/
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/nb-covid-19-roundup-jennifer-russell.html
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Jennifer Russell, Dominic Cardy to hold news briefing
Briefing by chief medical health officer and education minister set for 2:30 p.m.
Latest
- University of Moncton reports 3rd case
- Russell, Cardy to hold news conference
- No sign of yellow phase
- Fredericton coffee shop on the verge of closing
- N.S. students want to return to school in New Brunswick
- Potential public exposure warnings for Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton
- What to do if you have a symptom
Dr. Jennifer Russell will be speaking at a news conference in Fredericton at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to provide an update on the respiratory virus in New Brunswick.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy will also be at the briefing, the first COVID briefing since last Thursday.
Public Health has reported 36 cases of the illness since then, including six cases on Monday. There are 120 active cases in the province.
The new cases bring the total number of active cases to 120. So far, New Brunswick has had 501 cases during the pandemic and seven deaths.
University of Moncton reports another COVID case
A third case of COVID-19 has turned up at the University of Moncton.
The university sent an email to students and staff on Monday confirming the latest case of the respiratory virus.
The university said the recent case poses a low-risk to the campus community, and New Brunswick Public Health has already been in contact with individuals who were in close contact with the individual.
"If Public Health hasn't contacted you directly, you don't need to take those extra precautions," the email said in French.
The individual is in isolation.
Public Health confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 in the Moncton region on Monday. Both cases involve individuals in their 20s.
Last month, an employee at the University of Moncton's campus tested positive for COVID-19. That individual also posed a low risk to the campus community.
No sign of yellow phase returning
New Brunswick Public Health says close to 2,000 people are now self isolating over exposure risks to Covid 19.
Over 80 of them are Horizon Health employees.
In the Saint John Health Region, Public Health has traced all 71 active cases and determined they are linked.
Close to half of the province remains under the more restricted, orange level phase of recovery which includes maintaining a single household bubble
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell says it's still too early to say when those areas can move back to the yellow phase.
"I can't say at this point what's going to happen," she said. "Normally, measures are put in place for 14 days."
After that, Russell said Public Health will determine what is happening in terms of transmission, cases and how the health care system is coping.
The Saint John Health zone was pushed back to the orange phase on Nov. 20, and Moncton on Nov. 19.
The Fredericton health region was rolled back to orange on Friday.
Fredericton coffee shop on the verge of closing
The owners of a Fredericton coffee shop are wondering whether their doors will still be open by the end of the month.
Krista Touesnard said she's been worried about the Tipsy Muse since the virus hit in March, and businesses were forced to shut down.
"We've just been living in that sense of anxiety and the unknown of the future."
Two weeks ago, she and her husband Rob took a hard look at the books, staff and the number of people coming through their doors.
We're not going to give up. We're going to keep fighting.
- Krista Touesnard, owner of Tipsy Muse
They're not sure what will happen to the coffee shop now that the Fredericton region has moved back to the orange phase of recovery from the less restrictive yellow phase.
"It's been a pretty emotional couple of weeks for sure," she said.
The coffee shop is known for catering to the local art community, including photographers, poets and potters.
"We want to keep that place available for them to keep coming."
Touesnard
also made it clear the café is not alone among local businesses.
People in the business community have reached out to help, such as
offering up extra coffee cups.
Last week, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO Krista Ross encouraged Fredericton residents to shop local this holiday season.
"We're just letting them help us now," Touesnard said.
The Liberal government is preparing to spend up to $100 billion to kick-start the post-pandemic economy in the face of a record-high deficit projection of more than $381 billion for this fiscal year.
Touesnard said she's hoping her business will be able to benefit.
"We're not going to give up," she said. "We're going to keep fighting."
N.S. students want to return to school in New Brunswick
More students from out of province are finding themselves shut out of New Brunswick schools.
Students from Listuguj haven't been able to attend Sugarloaf High in Campbellton since mid-October.
And now that the Atlantic bubble has disintegrated, students from Nova Scotia aren't allowed to go to class at Tantramar High in Sackville.
Nova Scotia MLA Elizabeth Smith McCrossin is asking the New Brunswick government to reconsider.
"I believe that our students from here in Cumberland County and Amherst do not pose any threat," she said. "In most cases, these students live 10 minutes from the high school."
Smith McCrossin said there haven't been any cases of the respiratory virus in Cumberland County.
"Our communities are completely interconnected," she said.
Meanwhile, elementary, middle school, and post-secondary students from Nova Scotia are still allowed into New Brunswick.
CBC News has contacted the New Brunswick's Department of Education to ask why high school students are being kept out.
Potential public exposure warnings for Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton
New Brunswick Public Health has warned of the following possible exposures to COVID-19 in Moncton and Saint John, including gyms, stores, bars, restaurants and on flights.
Anyone who visited these places during the identified times should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
Anyone who develops any COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and take the self-assessment online to schedule a test.
Fredericton area
- The Snooty Fox on Nov. 18 and 19, 66 Regent St., between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
- GoodLife Fitness Fredericton on Nov. 18 at 1174 Prospect St. between 10:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. Nov. 19 between 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
- The YMCA of Fredericton on Nov. 17 at 570 York St. throughout the evening.
Saint John area
- Vito's Restaurant on Nov. 16, 111 Hampton Rd., Rothesay, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Cora Breakfast and Lunch on Nov. 16 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (39 King St., Saint John).
- Goodlife Fitness McAllister Place on Nov. 16 between noon and 1 p.m. and on Nov. 18 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John).
- NBCC Grandview campus on Nov. 16, 17, and 18 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (950 Grandview Ave., Saint John).
- Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio on Nov. 19 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. (47 Clark Rd., Rothesay)
-
Big Tide Brewing Company at 47 Princess St. on Nov. 16, between 12:30 to 2 p.m.
-
Java Moose at 84 Prince William St. Nov. 16, between 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Flights into Saint John:
Public Health identified a positive case in a traveller who may have been infectious on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 while on the following flights:
- Air Canada Flight 8421 on Nov. 17 and 18 from Kelowna to Vancouver, arrived at 8 p.m.
- Air Canada Flight 314 on Nov. 17 and 18 from Vancouver to Montreal, arrived at 07:11 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8792 on Nov. 17 and 18, from Montreal to Saint John arrived at 9:22 p.m.
Moncton
- RD Maclean Co. Ltd. on Nov. 16, 17 and 18 at 200 St. George St., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- GoodLife Fitness on Nov. 21 at 555 Dieppe Blvd, Dieppe, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
-
Keg Steakhouse and Bar at 576 Main St. on Nov. 17, between 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Flights into Moncton:
- Air Canada Flight 178 on Nov. 19 from Edmonton to Toronto, arrived at 5:58 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 404 on Nov. 19 from Toronto to Montreal, arrived at 10:16 a.m.
- Air Canada Flight 8902 on Nov. 19 from Montreal to Moncton, arrived at 4:17 p.m.
What to do if you have a symptom
People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:
-
A fever above 38 C.
-
A new cough or worsening chronic cough.
-
Sore throat.
-
Runny nose.
-
Headache.
-
New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.
-
Difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should:
-
Stay at home.
-
Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.
-
Describe symptoms and travel history.
-
Follow instructions.
About the Author
Methinks Higgy's desperate minions do and say desperate things when their supply of taxpayer funded butter tarts is in jeopardy before the Yuletide season N'esy Pas?
Still talking but not saying much.
You missed that call Buford.
The ONLY thing Mr Cardy loves is himself.
What a co-incidence, I just left the Irving and a public safety guy was there paying for gas.
I was surprised at the amount of gear that he had on.... gunbelt and gun, baton and I presume cuffs plus the bullet proof vest.....
I'm not even sure what these guys do....
We also have armed game warden guys, armed sheriffs and who else?
More gun toten people than a banana republic.
Methinks some folks must recall that the ex Fat Fred City Finest dude Urquhart saw his bill voted down last year and he quit N'esy Pas?
'Cause it holds more rounds than a 357 magnum...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/shannex-saint-john-covid-employee-cupe-test-1.5822357
Shannex employee sent home with COVID-like symptoms was called back to work, union alleges
CUPE blames staff shortage caused by outbreak at Saint John's Tucker Hall, but company says it's fully staffed
· CBC News · Posted: Nov 30, 2020 8:52 PM AT
Residents with COVID-19 have been moved to a designated area inside Tucker Hall. (Google Maps)
A health-care worker at the Shannex Tucker Hall nursing home in Saint John was sent home sick on Nov. 25 with COVID-19-like symptoms but called back in the next day, despite not having been tested and cleared, because of a worsening staff shortage caused by an outbreak at the home, according to the national CUPE representative.
Although the employee's symptoms had subsided and a subsequent COVID-19 test came back negative, the situation raises grave concerns, said Tamara Elisseou, who represents members of CUPE Local 5446.
"What would have happened if that employee had have tested positive? That's the scary piece," she said.
There were 15 confirmed cases at the Shannex Parkland community in Saint John as of Saturday evening, the most recent update available since the outbreak was declared on Nov. 20. The cases include four employees and 10 residents at Tucker Hall and one employee at Carleton Hall, an independent-living retirement building.
Tamara Elisseou, national representative for CUPE Local 5446, said Shannex members are exhausted and overwhelmed. (Submitted by Tamara Elisseou)
Another 25 employees are self-isolating, Shannex told CBC News on Monday.
Elisseou does not believe the case of the employee in question contributed to the outbreak. But she contends it's a symptom of a larger, long-standing problem.
"We are in a staff shortage during an outbreak situation due to recruitment and retention issues in New Brunswick," she said.
"That worker never would have been called in if there was adequate staffing."
Shannex union members have described the working conditions as being "chaotic," she said. "They're down multiple bodies within units" and are allegedly being asked to help with housekeeping duties as well.
"They're feeling overwhelmed, they're exhausted. The morale is down and they feel like they've been left high and dry by this government with regards to workload issues in nursing homes."
Shannex screens at the door
Shannex declined to respond directly to the union's allegations about a sick worker being called back in to work.
"We can't speak to any individual employee matter," senior communications manager Isabelle Landry said in an emailed statement.
But she did say employees are asked to actively screen themselves for COVID-19 symptoms before they arrive for each shift.
"If they are not at work and feel they have two or more symptoms, we ask them to follow the book-off process to notify the site and to call their occupational health team designate for further screening," said Landry.
The Shannex Parkland community in Saint John had 15 cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, including five employees and 10 residents. Another 25 employees are self-isolating. (Google Maps)
Shannex also actively screens all employees at the door when they arrive for their shift, she said. If an employee has two or more COVID-19 symptoms, they are sent home and asked to call their occupational health team for further screening.
"Before the employee returns to the workplace, they must be screened and cleared to return to work by Public Health and our occupational health team."
There may be occasions when an employee is directed to remain out of the workplace while an exposure risk assessment is conducted, such as through contact tracing, said Landry.
Retesting continues
Retesting, led by Public Health, is "an important part in managing this situation," she said. "It is how we've been able to identify positive cases for individuals with no symptoms."
Another round of testing was held on Monday and is scheduled to continue Tuesday, said Public Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.
Members of the provincial rapid outbreak management team, or PROMPT, remain on site providing support for residents and the facility's clinical care team, he said.
This support includes testing and working in collaboration with the facility's infection prevention control specialist on infection control measures.
Co-workers were 'fearful'
Elisseou said the employee in question was tested on Nov. 24 as part of routine facility-wide testing being conducted by Public Health every few days.
The employee, who provides direct care for residents, began to experience some mild symptoms on Nov. 25 and was sent home, she said.
When the employee was called in again on Nov. 26, some members came forward, "obviously with concerns about their health and safety and fearful about the possibility of a sick worker being called back into work," said Elisseou.
They're not just concerned about themselves. They are also worried about the residents that they care for.- Tamara Elisseou, CUPE national representative
"They're not just concerned about themselves. They are also worried about the residents that they care for. They spend a lot of time with the residents there and they care very deeply about them. And they're concerned about their health and well-being as well."
The employee's symptoms had subsided by then, having apparently been brought on by exhaustion, she said.
But the union's position is that the employee should have been tested and waited for clear test results before returning to the nursing home, said Elisseou, noting people with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic.
"And that's where the concern arose from many of the members, because that's often what's being told to workers and members of the general public," she said. "When they screen you at the door, if you have two or more symptoms, they will sometimes, oftentimes, prevent you from entering and send you for a COVID screening. And then you have to wait until you get cleared to return to work."
The employee was retested Nov. 27, as part of facility-wide testing, and the result was negative, said Elisseou.
Scheduling 'challenging'
Landry described scheduling as "challenging," but said the facilities are fully staffed.
"Every day our management team monitors staffing levels for every shift, and they work proactively to identify where we have gaps to fill and ensure employees feel supported and safe while at work," she said. "During this pandemic it is no different.
"We are fortunate, and we are grateful for the team members who continue to come to work to care for residents and support each other during this challenging time."
In total, the Shannex Parkland community in Saint John has 220 employees.
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