COVID-19 has claimed the lives of three more New Brunswickers and infected 746 more people, Public Health reported Tuesday.
But the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the province is likely even higher, says Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.
"Really, we have to begin to consider that Omicron is everywhere because it transmits so quickly," she said. "We know that our cases double every two to three days."
"I believe that, you know, realistically, there are going to be people who are asymptomatic. I believe that our case counts are probably higher than we're able to report."
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the province will "reserve" diagnostic PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests for those considered at the highest risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19, while everyone else will have to rely on less accurate at-home rapid tests and self-report positive results.
Until now, all COVID cases in New Brunswick have been identified with a PCR test, or by a rapid test followed by a confirmatory PCR test.
In addition, the province announced last Friday that contact tracing among the general public is "no longer feasible," given the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Instead, people who test positive are being asked to notify their close contacts.
On Monday, the province hit a new single-day record-high of 922 new cases of COVID-19. The province could see 1,000 new cases a day by mid- to late this week, Shephard has said.
A person 70 to 79 years old in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and two people in their eighties in the Saint John region, Zone 2, have died as a result of COVID-19, Public Health said in a news release. This raises the province's pandemic death toll to 165.
There are now 571 health-care workers isolating at home due to because of COVID-19, up from 500 on Monday. Of these, 460 are from the Horizon Health Network, 70 are from the Vitalité Health Network, and 41 are from Extra-Mural/Ambulance New Brunswick.
The breakdown of the new COVID cases includes:
- Moncton region, Zone 1 — 166
- Saint John region, Zone 2 — 351
- Fredericton region, Zone 3 — 90
- Edmundston region, Zone 4 — 44
- Campbellton region, Zone 5 — six
- Bathurst region, Zone 6 — 37
- Miramichi region, Zone 7 — 52
PCR tests will be limited to:
- People in areas at highest risk, including health-care workers and those who live or work in long-term care facilities, homeless shelters and correctional facilities.
- People who are symptomatic and aged 50 or over.
- People who are symptomatic and immunocompromised or pregnant.
- People who need a PCR test for travel.
- People who are identified as a priority by Public Health.
For everyone else, a positive rapid test will be treated as a positive result for COVID-19, and people will be asked to register their result through a new form that will be available online this week, Public Health has said. Department of Health officials did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for more information about when the new online registration system will be up and running.
These changes are expected to increase the demand for rapid-test kits.
"We certainly need more," said Shephard.
The free test kits have been in short supply in the province in recent weeks as COVID case number have risen.
Some people have expressed frustration about lining up for hours at distribution sites, only to be told the sites had run out of kits.
On Tuesday, the Horizon Health Network announced its weekly mobile pickup locations in Sackville, St. Stephen, Minto and Baie-Sainte-Anne would not be taking place.
‼️Horizon’s mobile rapid screening pick-up locations scheduled for Tuesdays in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sackville?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sackville</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StStephen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StStephen</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minto</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BaieSainteAnne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BaieSainteAnne</a> will not take place on Jan. 4. See a full list of rapid test pickup locations: <a href="https://t.co/m6l5A54Niy">https://t.co/m6l5A54Niy</a> <a href="https://t.co/GNaT2ABIdC">pic.twitter.com/GNaT2ABIdC</a>
—@HorizonHealthNB
"We had some delays in deliveries last week. There is one today. So there are four locations that won't be receiving rapid test supply," Shephard said. "But that is all being replenished and we will get back to a norm in the next few days."
The province is "looking at different mechanisms" to expand and improve the distribution system and will make some announcements within the next week, she said, acknowledging the "inconvenience and the difficulty" with the current system.
"What I can say is that we're going to be also going back to a drive-thru system so that people don't have to get out of their cars. It will be easier."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said people will also need to register to pick up the rapid-test kits.
"We want to avoid those long lines in the winter, so people will be given a time to pick them up."
On Tuesday, people picking up rapid-test kits in Fredericton were being told that as of Wednesday, they will need to book an appointment and arrive at the site with a voucher to claim the kits.
Department of Health officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
More rapid-test kits are on the way, added Shephard.
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos "sent me a note that said, 'I wanted to inform you my senior officials will be in contact with yours soon to give you specific information on rapid test deliveries for January. The expected numbers are significant, several times the deliveries received in December.'"
More than 3.8 million rapid tests have been distributed to New Brunswickers since Dec. 1 through schools, workplaces, airports and pickup sites, she said.
Shorter isolation periods
New isolation guidelines take effect Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.
Vaccinated people who test positive with a rapid test, as well as their close household contacts, who are vaccinated and asymptomatic, will need to isolate for five days.
Unvaccinated people who test positive, as well as their household contacts, who are unvaccinated and asymptomatic, will need to isolate for 10 days.
Close contacts outside of a household will be asked to mask continuously, avoid vulnerable settings and people, and limit their contacts as much as possible for at least 10 days.
After isolation, people must wear a mask continuously and avoid vulnerable settings and gatherings for the next five days.
If a close contact develops symptoms, they will be directed to take a rapid test, unless they meet the criteria for a PCR test.
Asked whether there should be more PCR testing to provide a more accurate picture of case counts, Shephard said people need to change the way they think about COVID-19 and Omicron.
"We need to assume, just like the common cold, it is everywhere, and it's not common to us to have this kind of mindset with COVID-19, but the fact is, is that, you know, we're looking at transitioning to a different mindset and a different perspective with regards to how we live with COVID.
"And so I'm not saying that we don't need to be concerned because we do. We need to protect our over-50 population. We need to keep in mind, always, our vulnerable communities and those who are at risk. And I think that that's the kind of the pivot that we're going to need to make in the near future."
The chief medical officer of health acknowledged the posted number of cases will be "an underreporting."
"We absolutely will miss some" by relying on rapid tests, said Russell.
"It's about utilizing our resources as effectively and as efficiently as we possibly can."
Although the province's daily case counts will no longer paint a full picture, it's still "really important" to continue to report them, Russell said.
"With the numbers rapidly increasing, we're going to see that translate into hospitalizations, as I said, about the one per cent. So that's what we're preparing for."
56 people hospitalized, 16 in ICU
In addition to the 746 new cases of COVID-19 recorded Tuesday, Public Health reported 73 recoveries "based upon information available from PCR tests."
There are now 6,112 active cases across the province.
Fifty-six people are in hospital with the virus, an increase of five, including 16 in intensive care, down one. Eleven of them are on ventilators.
Of those in hospital, 37 are over the age of 60. No one under 19 is hospitalized.
A total of 83 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 82.9 per cent, 90.3 per cent have received their first dose, unchanged, and 21.3 per cent have received a booster dose, up from 21.2 per cent.
New Brunswick has had 17,566 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 11,287 recoveries so far.
A total of 626,853 PCR tests have been conducted to date, including 2,299 on Monday.
Border vaccine mandate for truckers could cause supply chain problems
The head of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association says U.S. border changes for unvaccinated truckers could bring supply chain headaches.
Starting on Jan. 15, truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border will have to show proof of vaccination.
And unvaccinated drivers will be unable to cross.
Association executive director Jean-Marc Picard says the restriction could have a substantial impact for workers and the supply chain.
"The industry is faced today with an immense driver shortage, and these restrictions will probably add a layer to that issue," he said.
"We estimate that we could lose between 10 and 20 per cent of drivers going cross-border."
Truckers have been among the few people allowed to cross the land border into the United States throughout the pandemic but they will now need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Picard estimates the number of unvaccinated truckers is similar to the number of unvaccinated people overall. According to the province, 90.3 per cent of the population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"Most companies have like 10 per cent of their fleet parked because they can't find drivers," he said. "So, you know, add another 10 per cent of driver loss in there — significant impact to the supply chain.
"We're going to start to see empty shelves and cost of goods is going to go through the roof."
Atlantic COVID roundup
Newfoundland and Labrador reported 493 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the active caseload to a new high of 3,254 as the province entered a modified version of Alert Level 4, tightening public health restrictions to slow the spread of the fast-moving Omicron variant. One person is in hospital because of the virus.
Prince Edward Island announced 198 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,159.
Nova Scotia reported 1,020 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Thirty-six people are hospitalized with the virus, including four in intensive care. The active case count on the dashboard hasn't been updated since last Friday, when it stood at approximately 5,117.
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 3 deaths, 746 new cases - CBC.ca
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