It has now been a week since New Brunswick reported a new case of the novel coronavirus, the province announced on Saturday.
Of the 118 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the provincial government says 11 cases remain active. It’s the same figure released by the province on Friday.
READ MORE: N.B. to allow outdoor activities, family ‘bubbles’ in relaxing COVID-19 restrictions
As of Saturday, there are no longer any New Brunswickers in intensive care as a result of the novel coronavirus.
That’s a decrease from the single case that was in the ICU on Friday. Only four people remain in hospital at this time.
In a press release, the province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said she was pleased with the progress the province has made but that it cannot afford to let down its guard.
“We want every day to be like today, where we have no new positive cases,” said Russell.
“It has been a week and I hope we can continue that trend.”
Health officials along with an all-party cabinet committee announced on Friday that the government would immediately begin relaxing physical distancing measures, allowing New Brunswickers to enjoy outdoor activities and create family ‘bubbles’ with another household.
Russell encouraged New Brunswickers to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing may not be possible, such as in grocery stores or at a pharmacy.
The province has not advised of any televised coronavirus updates scheduled for the weekend.
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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