New Brunswick health officials confirmed community transmission of COVID-19 for the first time Monday.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical health officer, said there are cases of community spread in Zone 1 (Moncton region), Zone 2 (Saint John region) and Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
Russell said there are additional cases being investigated in other regions of the province.
“We are now seeing cases which cannot be directly traced back to an infection which took place outside of the province. This is not a surprise,” said Russell. “This follows the trend we have seen in other parts of Canada and we have been expecting this and preparing for this.”
Russell said with the discovery of community transmission, new groups are being prioritized for testing.
“Symptomatic health-care workers, staff of long-term care facilities who provide direct patient care, hospitalized patients with respiratory symptoms and no other diagnosis, residents of long-term care facilities and other vulnerable communities such as nursing homes,” said Russell.
Symptomatic travellers from outside New Brunswick will continue to be tested, she said.
Russell also announced two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 68.
They are an individual aged 30 to 40 in Zone 2 (Saint John Region) and an individual aged 60 to 70 in Zone 3 (Fredericton region).
Russell said people who visited two Shoppers Drug Mart locations on the following dates were potentially exposed to COVID-19.
175 Old Hampton Road, Quispamsis:
- March 18 – 3:30 p.m. to midnight
- March 19 – 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- March 26 – 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
57 Lansdowne Avenue, Saint John:
- March 20 – 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
She said anyone who was in those stores during those times should self-monitor and call 811 if they have any symptoms.
“If you have the symptoms of COVID-19, you must act as if you have COVID-19,” said Russell. “That means isolating yourself immediately for at least 14 days. Do not put others at risk by behaving as if you do not have this disease.”
“More than ever, what you do matters. What each of us does matters. It remains within our capability to slow the progress and limit the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.”
