New Brunswick reported three new cases of COVID-19 and said another 15,365 people need to receive their first vaccine dose to reach the 75 per cent mark.
The province said this is necessary to begin loosening pandemic restrictions under the province’s Path to Green.
Public Health reported that 72.8 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Anyone eligible for a vaccine who has not already received their first dose can book an appointment online through a Vitalité or Horizon Health Network clinic or by contacting a participating pharmacy.
Walk-in clinics are also available for those who wish to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In-school vaccination clinics cancelled
The province appears to have scrapped plans for more in-school vaccination clinics before the school year ends later this month.
Anglophone School District South notified students from four Saint John high schools in an email late Tuesday that they could register online and be vaccinated at a clinic Thursday at Simonds High School.
Students from the other schools would be provided transportation by bus or could find their own way to Simonds.
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Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy said it was a pilot project that attracted few students.
Premier Blaine Higgs said this week that more in-school clinics were likely before classes were let out for the summer, but Cardy indicated a change in direction.
“So, we’re now going to be working more on trying to get kids bussed to existing vaccine sites,” Cardy said. “And the goal is, offer as many opportunities to as many people as possible, as often as possible, to go and get that shot so that we can get rid of the restrictions and open up the province.”
Cardy said the short notice may have contributed to low numbers at the in-school clinic.
Three new cases
Public Health said there’s one case in Zone 1, one case in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) and one case in Zone 6 (Bathurst region).
All three of these cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 2,283. Since Wednesday, seven people have recovered for a total of 2,137 recoveries.
There have been 44 deaths associated with the virus to date, and the number of active cases is 101.
Four patients in total are hospitalized. Three patients are in hospital in New Brunswick, including one in an intensive care unit. One patient is hospitalized out of province in an intensive care unit.
On Wednesday, 1,021 tests were conducted for a total of 347,501.
COVID-19 testing in Nackawic
The province announced that a temporary, outdoor COVID-19 testing clinic will be set up in the parking lot of the Nackawic Health Centre, 135 Otis Dr., in response to recent possible public exposures in the area.
The testing clinic will be by appointment only and will be open Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-With files from Tim Roszell
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