New Brunswick health officials have identified a third case of COVID-19 in the past week, after enjoying a five-day stretch of having no active cases in the province.
All three patients are part of a single cluster in the Campbelltown region, according to the province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell. They’re all related to a health-care professional who travelled but did not self-isolate upon their return from a personal trip to Quebec.
“We are still contact tracing but we know this zone is currently at a higher risk due to the actions of one irresponsible individual,” Premier Blaine Higgs said.
In New Brunswick, you must self-isolate for 14 days upon return to the province. But that didn’t stop the individual, who is their 50s, from seeing multiple patients over the two-week period following their return.
The other two cases involve a senior in their 90s, and a young child who attended two daycares.
“If charges need to be laid, they will,” Higgs said. “We don’t have all the facts, but over the coming days, we will get them.”
Russell said heath officials now expect to see more cases in the coming weeks.
“Unfortunately not everyone is taking this seriously. It is very important that people be truthful with public health staff.”
The Campbelltown region (Zone 5) will now go back to the first stage of its reopening plan, the “Orange phase.” The entire province moved to the second phase, “Yellow,” on Friday, which included the reopening of more businesses and activities, as well as easing of gathering restrictions among close friends and family.
“Based on the information I’ve given today, we might want to think about how many close contacts we have,” Russell said. “No matter what colour we’re in in”
On May 16, New Brunswick had announced that all 120 of its patients had recovered from the respiratory virus. But since May 21, the province has recorded three new cases, bringing its total to 123.
No one has yet to pass away in the province after contracting COVID-19.
