New Brunswick Public Health has expanded the list of symptoms needed to be tested for COVID-19.
The announcement comes on the 10th consecutive day in which no new cases of the virus have been reported.
The number of confirmed cases stands at 118, the number of active cases is four and 114 people have recovered.
One person remains hospitalized and there are no patients in an intensive care unit.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell has announced that new symptoms are being added to the list that determines when a COVID-19 test is administered.
The new symptoms are:
- a new onset of fatigue;
- a new onset of muscle pain;
- diarrhea;
- loss of sense of taste or loss of sense of smell; and
- in children, purple markings on the fingers or toes.
These symptoms are in addition to:
- fever above 38C;
- a new cough or worsening chronic cough;
- sore throat;
- runny nose; and
- headache.
Russell noted that in the case of children with purple markings on their fingers or toes, testing will be done even if none of the other symptoms are present.
“If you or anyone in your family is experiencing any two of the symptoms, please call 811 and follow their directions,” said Russell.
“It is crucial that we do more testing at this stage, and with a broader range of symptoms,” said Russell. “This list of symptoms covers our current knowledge of the signs of COVID-19. As we continually learn more about the virus, and as symptoms are confirmed, they will be added to our testing protocols.”
With the conclusion of the academic year for students attending universities and community colleges, the following rules are in place for students and anyone helping them to move their belongings in and out of the province:
- People may enter New Brunswick for a period of not more than 24 hours to remove belongings from a students’ residence. They are expected to isolate themselves as best as possible while in the province.
- Staying longer than 24 hours is considered remaining in the province and the 14-day self- isolation period would apply. Before traveling to New Brunswick, people should check with their home province to see if further restrictions may be applied upon their returning home.
- Anyone leaving New Brunswick for any length of time to remove belongings from a residence in another province is ordered, upon their return, to self-isolate for 14 days and follow the directions of public health officials.
