N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 94 new cases, hold off on Christmas travel plans, Shephard says
CBC
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard says there are 94 new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick and people should hold off until Monday to make Christmas travel plans.
"We don't want to cancel Christmas. We don't want to create such restrictions that people cannot enjoy their families," she told reporters Thursday.
But she's "very worried" about the high case counts and "significant amount" of community spread.
It's also unclear what will happen in the coming weeks in Quebec and Ontario, which both have confirmed cases of the new, potentially more transmissible COVID-19 variant omicron, she said.
Public Health is developing a COVID-19 "winter plan," which will be presented to cabinet. "We should know something by Monday," said Shephard.
Asked whether people should wait to plan their Christmas travel, she replied, "Yeah, give me till Monday."
Public Health announced three more COVID-related deaths and 93 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Sixty-seven people are hospitalized, two of whom are under 19. Twenty-seven of them contracted the virus while already in hospital for another reason, with outbreaks at the Moncton Hospital, Saint John Regional Hospital and Miramichi Regional Hospital.
Of the 15 people in intensive care, 12 are on a ventilator.
There are 676 active cases across the province, as of Wednesday.
Shephard said the three days of "lower numbers" Sunday through Monday "was promising."
The new case counts Thursday and Wednesday, however, are "significant."
"I don't know how to convey to the public that we just so need their support to follow Public Health measures."
She expressed frustration with the community spread.