New Brunswick has another presumptive case of the coronavirus which brings the provincial total to eight.
Chief medical health officer Dr. Jennifer Russell says two of those cases have now been confirmed.
“The new case is a male under the age of ten residing in Zone 3 (central part of New Brunswick). The individual is a close contact of a confirmed travel case.”
Dr. Russell says it’s expected to see new cases around clusters of close contacts in travel-related cases.
Starting today, Dr. Russell says patients who want to visit their family doctors will not have to go their offices in person for routine requests such as prescription refills or follow up advice.
She adds these services can now be provided over the phone or online through video chat.
In addition, federal travel restrictions have led many snowbirds to return home early from warmer climates which means those individuals will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Dr. Russell is urging New Brunswickers to check on snowbirds by helping them buy groceries and other supplies.
She also commented on a Prince Edward Island COVID-19 case which has a New Brunswick connection.
She says a person had been symptomatic when they travelled on Westjet flight #3440 from Toronto to Moncton on March 7.
Dr. Russell adds public health will be getting in contact with about 70 people on that flight and urge them to self-isolate for 14 days.
