FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health says she doesn't see an immediate need for further health restrictions despite continuing high daily COVID-19 case numbers.
But Dr. Jennifer Russell says she is concerned by the latest numbers. The 174 cases reported Thursday were the most in one day since the pandemic began, and Friday's count of 143 was the second highest.
"Public health does not see a need to recommend further restrictions on New Brunswickers at this time," she said at a news conference in Fredericton, calling the current guidance sufficient to secure the health-care system.
Russell also reported one additional death from COVID-19 Friday involving a person in their 70s in the Miramichi region. There are now 971 active cases in the province, and 36 people are hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care. Russell called the number of hospitalizations manageable.
But Liberal Opposition leader Roger Melanson told reporters Friday that the public is alarmed by the spike in case numbers.
"I get that the hospitalization rate is supposedly manageable, but the number of cases are out of control. I think the government is out of solutions," he said at the legislature.
Russell said that while the province has imposed so-called circuit-breaker measures in the past, the current situation is different.
"Last winter we recommended lockdowns in several zones with only a few dozen cases, but at that time very few New Brunswickers were vaccinated against COVID-19 and there was no widespread protection against the worst effects of the virus," she said. "Since then, the vast majority of New Brunswickers have become fully vaccinated."
Melanson said he thinks tougher measures are needed and that they should have already been imposed. "Nobody likes stricter rules, but this is serious," he said. "We've never seen so many cases in this province."
Russell said stricter rules may be required in the future, "but they will be applied in a manner that recognizes the importance of maintaining as normal a life as possible."
A large proportion of the new cases in New Brunswick have been among children and teenagers. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard told the news conference that in order to help decrease the number of positive cases in schools in the Fredericton region, rapid test kits will be distributed to all kindergarten to Grade 8 students beginning Monday.
"In schools with active cases, students and staff will be required to use rapid testing to manage the risk of transmission in schools. In schools which have not had active cases within the last 14 days, it is recommended that students test daily, but it is not mandatory," Shephard said.
Peoples' Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he supports keeping schools open, telling reporters that keeping children home from school for an extended time has an impact on their mental health.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2021.
Kevin Bissett, The Canadian Press
