New Brunswick has announced a new online portal for checking COVID-19 test results.
The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell says that anyone tested after April 20 will be able to check their results within 24 to 48 hours.
Dr. Russell says the system will help people get their results faster while freeing up human resources within the department.
“With this new portal, patients will be able to access their test results faster from the safety of their home,” she said.
“The quicker access to test results will relieve some of the stress associated with the testing process and enable those with positive tests to take immediate actions to protect the health of their family and community.”
The province also announced no new cases for a third day in a row Tuesday. The total number of confirmed cases remains at 118, but just 16 cases are considered active.
READ MORE: No new cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick, but pandemic far from over says top doctor
With the case numbers looking positive premier Blaine Higgs says the province will begin looking towards recovery. A meeting of the all-party cabinet committee on COVID-19 scheduled for later this week will begin discussing a plan for reopening the economy.
“We need to bring New Brunswick back,” Higgs said.
“We need to create a province that gets back to its economic viability and its lifestyle.”
But as businesses begin to open Higgs said they shouldn’t expect a return to normal right off the bat.
“That new norm is respecting public health guidelines so we do not have a resurgence and that new norm will be in place until we get a vaccine.”
Another pot of provincial money will be available to non-profits who are struggling with the impact of the pandemic. Eligible organizations will be able to apply for grants ranging from $500-$10,000. Higgs said that the program is a response to a gap in federal support.
But when it comes to the possibility of a further aid package on top of the credit programs available from the federal and provincial governments Higgs said that the need to recover in the short term can’t blot out the need to look toward’s the province’s fiscal future.
“We want to see companies recover, but we know that there will be losses here, there will be companies that likely won’t come back from this, so we won’t be niave in the process,” he said. “But our goal is to rebuild our province in a way that’s sustainable and long term.”
“We can’t lose sight of what we do today and its impact on tomorrow if we let this get out of hand on us.”
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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