N.B. reports COVID-19 outbreak in Moncton special care home after 2 residents test positive

New Brunswick health officials said on Tuesday that an outbreak has been declared at Notre-Dame Manor, a special care home in Moncton, after two residents tested positive for the coronavirus.

The care home has 112 residents and 56 employees.

“An outbreak is everyone’s greatest fear and please be assured that our overriding priority is the health and safety of the residents and those who care for them,” said chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell in a provincial update on Tuesday.

Russell also said they are “deeply concerned” for the remaining residents in the home and that some staff are showing potential symptoms.

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Premier Blaine Higgs said this announcement is the reason why the province is still under a state of emergency, regardless of low numbers of cases.

“We knew COVID-19 was not done with our Province,” Higgs said in the update. “We have to do what is needed to protect our vulnerable family members and friends.”

Health officials said contact tracing is being conducted and other residents and staff are being tested.

The two cases in Notre-Dame Manor are the only two cases reported on Tuesday. There are currently five active cases in the province.

To date, New Brunswick has confirmed 205 cases of COVID-19 and 198 people have recovered. There have been two deaths in the province, both in the Campbellton region.

As of Tuesday, 80,809 tests have been conducted.

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Last week, Higgs said he is considering imposing a mandatory mask-wearing order across the province if New Brunswickers don’t obey current orders on mask use.

He also announced last week that effective Oct. 8, travellers by land from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia will no longer be screened for COVID-19 before entering New Brunswick.