FREDERICTON — New Brunswick reported four new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, the first cases detected in the province in more than two weeks.

Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters the cases involve temporary foreign workers who arrived from Mexico.

Higgs said they were identified during screening when they arrived in Moncton, N.B., and they remain in isolation. He said the workers were destined for jobs in Miramichi, N.B.

"The system caught these workers before they went out," Higgs said. "The contact tracing is being done. It (the screening system) has been able to contain it to this group, and we feel confident that's as far as it will go at this stage."

The provincial Health Department confirmed the workers are between the ages of 30 and 39.

It said they had immediately self-isolated upon their arrival in the province and before taking up their jobs.

The workers were tested on the 10th day of the required 14-day period and were subsequently diagnosed as positive for the virus. They will continue to self-isolate until cleared by public health officials.

"Self-isolation at the time of diagnosis is the goal, which means the risk of transmission is the lowest it can possibly be, limiting the number of cases," Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said in a news release. "Our protocols are working."

New Brunswick has had a total of 174 confirmed cases with 168 people recovered from the virus and two deaths.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2020.

The Canadian Press