As of Monday, no new presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in the province. There are still 17 cases in New Brunswick: eight confirmed and nine presumptive.
At the province’s daily press briefing, Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said she expects to see a growing number of cases.
She reminded New Brunswickers to practise proper social distancing and to stay home to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Staying at home will save lives,” said Russell.
Russell also noted that it’s important for the province to track those who have been in contact with others who have since become infected.
“A case from Prince Edward Island has implications for New Brunswick. The patient was showing symptoms on March 16 when they travelled from Toronto to Moncton on WestJet flight 3456,” she said in a press release.
“We are confident that PEI’s public health has undertaken appropriate contact tracing but want to reiterate that anyone who travelled on that flight must immediately go into self-isolation for 14 days.”
Premier Blaine Higgs, who was also at the press briefing, said the province has checked in on about 700 businesses to ensure they are complying with the state of emergency declaration, and it was found that 94 per cent are in compliance.
Higgs says the goal is 100 per cent.
To limit the spread of COVID-19, the province has restricted all non-essential travel between Canada and the United States until further notice.
People who are returning to New Brunswick from international travel are required to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
The New Brunswick government also said a phone line will be available Monday, which people can call if they have concerns about people not complying with the state of emergency orders.
In the meantime, the province is encouraging concerned individuals to remind returning travellers of their responsibility to do their part to keep everyone safe by staying in their homes.
Higgs also announced that the testing lab at the George Dumont Hospital in Moncton is now able to confirm tests. Presumptive tests will no longer need to be sent to the national lab in Winnipeg.
According to the province, this will speed up the testing and confirmation process. After the remaining tests that were already submitted are returned, the province will be announcing positive and negative test results without the need for a presumptive category.
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