No new presumptive cases of coronavirus were reported in New Brunswick on Sunday, March 22. There have been over 900 tests, only eight of which are confirmed and nine presumptive.
Continue to self isolate
New Brunswick’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jennifer Russell, is encouraging people to continue social isolation practices. “All of us can take simple actions that can help stop the spread of any type of communicable disease,” Russell said in a press release. “Regular hand washing, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, practice social distancing by maintaining two-metres from others and staying home (self-isolating) when you are sick can greatly reduce the risk of infection spreading.”
Social isolation is important, even if you haven’t travelled outside of the province. Symptoms of COVID-19, coronavirus, can take days or even weeks to appear; in the time they haven’t appeared, if you haven’t socially isolated, you could be infecting dozens of people.
The NB government is opening a phone line Monday, March 23, so that people can report others not complying with state of emergency orders.
Service NB opening for essential services only
Some Service NB centres are opening Monday, March 23, for essential services only. The public is urged not to visit unless absolutely necessary. The number of people permitted inside will be limited and people are urged to use Service NB’s online option if possible.
The offices that will reopen are Campbellton, Bathurst, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, St. Stephen, Woodstock, Fredericton, and Edmundston. The temporary hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Licenses, permits, and registrations that were valid as of March 16, 2020, will remain valid until May 31, 2020, so these will not be renewed. An in-depth list of essential services is listed on the GNB website.
If you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, there is a self-assessment tool available on the GNB website here. The website advises not to visit any hospitals, doctor’s offices, or other healthcare facilities if you suspect you have COVID-19 to avoid infecting other, potentially more vulnerable, people.
