Presumptive case of coronavirus recorded in New Brunswick: health official

There is a presumptive case of the new coronavirus in New Brunswick, according to the province’s chief medical officer of health.

Dr. Jennifer Russell held an emergency press conference in Fredericton Wednesday afternoon, where she confirmed the presumptive case.

The case relates to a woman between the age of 50 and 60, Russell said, adding that she travelled from France.

“She was taken in for assessment and put in an isolation room.”

Russell said the woman has been treated, tested, and is in self-isolation at her home in southeastern New Brunswick.

Health officials are not specifying the exact city for privacy reasons. Russell says her conditions are mild.

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Lab results from Georges Dumont Hospital in Moncton will be sent to the national headquarters in Winnipeg for confirmation.

Russell says public health measures have already been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus by reaching out to all individuals who may have been in contact with the woman.

Those who have been in contact with the woman are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

1:55 New Brunswick bans international travellers from schools for two weeks

This is the first presumptive case of the novel coronavirus in Atlantic Canada.

“This is not unexpected,” said Russell. “We did expected to have a travel-related case in New Brunswick, or more.

“We have been preparing for this situation since the first case appeared in Canada.”

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Earlier in the day, Russell requested that anyone who travelled internationally within the last 14 days stay away from hospitals and long-term care homes.

Russell also asked anyone who returned from China’s Hubei province or Iran to self-isolate for 14 days.

The decision coincides with the Department of Education’s move to have students, staff, volunteers and family members returning from international locations after March 8 staying away from schools for 14 days.

During Wednesday’s late-afternoon press conference, Premier Blaine Higgs reiterated that public health and emergency measures officials have been preparing for more cases since the first virus emerged in January.

“We knew this day would come, and that is why we have been working diligently to prepare to respond appropriately in the case of the coronavirus in our province,” he said.

“Let me assure you, we are ready.”

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