New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health confirmed Saturday another COVID-19 death in New Brunswick, of an individual in their 70s in Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
This brings the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 to 33. It’s also the third death this week.
Dr. Jennifer Russell said that public health will now operate under the assumption that all confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 are one of the variants of concern, which are highly infectious and easily transmittable.
READ MORE: New Brunswick reports second COVID-19 death this week, positive case at daycare
She said the continued rise of cases along with the rising numbers of hospitalization provides stark evidence of this.
“This is no longer business as usual,” said Russell at the COVID-19 briefing on Saturday.
Russell said higher numbers of vaccine doses will be funneled to Zone 4. She encourages eligible residents there to get vaccinated.
Some hospitalized New Brunswickers have one or both doses of a vaccine already, she noted.
“Our situation has changed significantly,” said Russell.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard who was also at the briefing confirmed that cabinet and the all-party committee has accepted the recommendation to the new lockdown in Zone 4.
Shephard also said that the return to full-time, in-person learning for high schools will be delayed.
The decision will be revisited the week of April 26.
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