As of Monday, Alberta Health Services had 370 ICU beds, including 197 additional surge spaces, a 114 per cent increase over the baseline of 173. "AHS has opened 32 additional ICU surge spaces in the past seven days," spokesperson Kerry Williamson said. Alberta has 318 patients in ICU, "the vast majority of whom are COVID positive. "This is the highest number of patients in ICU since the pandemic began." Read more: Alberta kids have surgeries postponed due to high COVID-19 cases in hospitals The number of patients in ICU has increased by 10 per cent in the past seven days," Williamson said. Dr.
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New Brunswick reported another COVID-related death and 71 new cases Wednesday, and clarified the bubble rules for Thanksgiving weekend as well as the two-week circuit breaker for parts of the province.
A person in their 90s in the Moncton region Zone 1, has died "as a result of COVID-19," according to a news release. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths to 14 in less than a week and 70 since the pandemic began.
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There are 51 people hospitalized because of the virus, one more than Tuesday, with 25 of them in intensive care, an increase of two. No one under the age of 19 is hospitalized.
"Our situation here in New Brunswick remains serious and that is why we have had to take additional steps to curb the spread and reduce hospitalizations," Premier Blaine Higgs said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Higgs announced several measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus and preventing further hospitalizations.
Among them, all New Brunswickers must limit their private Thanksgiving weekend gatherings to their single households, both indoors and outdoors, starting Friday at 6 p.m. until Monday at 11:59 p.m.
On Wednesday night, the Department of Health clarified that New Brunswickers who live alone can bubble with another household during the holiday weekend.
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"While we encourage people to remain within a single household bubble, we recognize the needs of individuals who live alone or who require support," spokesperson Gail Harding said in an emailed statement. "Human connection is important to help cope, especially during these challenging times.
"If your household is the regular support for an individual who lives alone, please continue to do so. We only ask that you keep it exclusive to one other household. In turn, that household agrees to only pair up with one individual, as well. By keeping our contacts constant, we can still be connected without increasing the risk."
Asked to further clarify whether this applies to people who aren't elderly and don't have any medical issues they require help with, but just want to share the holiday with others, Harding confirmed that is correct.
On Tuesday, the province said a single household only includes individuals living together, caregivers for any member of the household, and any parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild living outside the household who requires supports.
Premier Jason Kenney announced that Alberta has now agreed to accept help from Ottawa as the health-care system is under "enormous pressure" because of the fourth wave of COVID-19. "We appreciate reciprocal offers," Kenney said at a news conference, noting Alberta has offered assistance to other provinces during the COVID-19 pandemic as well and still has citizens from other province's in its hospitals' ICUs.
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An updated definition on a new circuit breaker website launched Wednesday afternoon doesn't mention the clarification for people who live alone and don't require support.
"A single household includes individuals living together," the website states.
"It can be extended to include caregivers for any of those people, plus any parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of those people who requires support, plus any one additional person who lives alone at another address who requires support."
People can still get together for Thanksgiving at restaurants and other businesses, services and events that check for proof of vaccination. Children under 12 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult will be admitted.
Travel outside the province is also permitted.
Whether students studying out of province can return home for the holiday weekend depends on the address listed on their government-issued identification, such as a driver's licence or Medicare card, said Harding.
They may return home only if their ID records the household they're coming to as their primary address, she said.
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The bubble extension for people who live alone also applies to those in the COVID-19 "hot zones" subject to a two-week circuit breaker. This includes the Moncton region, as far north as and including Sainte-Anne-de-Kent; Zone 3 in the Upper St. John River Valley north of and including Florenceville-Bristol; and all of Zone 4, the Edmundston region.
In addition to the two-week limit on gatherings, non-essential travel in and out of these areas is restricted, except for those who must travel for essential reasons, including work, health services, child custody, childcare or post-secondary education, or travel to events where proof of vaccination is required.
All businesses can remain open, but must follow the mandatory order measures.
Premier Blaine Higgs says the province decided to limit Thanksgiving weekend gatherings across New Brunswick to single households because household gatherings have been a "major source" of COVID-19 infections.
"Everyone gets together, some are vaccinated, some aren't. And then everyone walks out as a transmitter."
Asked why the province didn't place a ban on unvaccinated gatherings only, Higgs said a blanket ban will make enforcement easier.
"The fact is, 90 per cent would follow [the rules] but 10 per cent will throw caution to the wind," he told CBC's Information Morning Fredericton Wednesday.
Here's CBC Ottawa's latest roundup of key updates during the coronavirus pandemic.Trudeau laid out his government's vaccine policy earlier this week, which includes a new rule that federal employees must report their vaccination status by Oct. 29 — and if they are not fully immunized, they risk unpaid leave. The rule also applies to federal contractors such as cleaning staff.
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Public Safety officers will conduct checks throughout the province, with a focus on the circuit breaker areas, including random road checks, said Higgs.
"You can expect checkpoints but it's not going to be like a blockade on the road," he said. "We are relying on people to help us get over the hump here. It's not going to be done through enforcement."
Public Safety spokesperson Coreen Enos said officers will monitor compliance with the additional holiday measures as well as the mandatory order.
"They will take action when required," she said in an emailed statement, without elaborating.
New Brunswick's doctors support the province's decision to limit Thanksgiving celebrations to single households and the two-week "circuit breaker" for the areas deemed COVID-19 "hot zones" to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health-care system.
"These are difficult steps to take that are undoubtedly frustrating and disheartening for all New Brunswickers," Dr. Mark MacMillan, the new president of the New Brunswick Medical Societyy, said in a statement Wednesday. "However, physicians strongly believe that these are necessary steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent further strain on our health system."
The health-care system doesn't have the human resources or hospital space to take on the growing surge of patients without drastically reducing services elsewhere, said MacMillan, who was installed as president last weekend.
The medical society continues to urge people to "do their part to curb the spread of COVID-19" and get fully vaccinated if they haven't already done so.
New Brunswick recorded two more COVID-related deaths and 130 new cases Friday, and the Horizon Health Network announced it will move all of its hospitals and health-care centres to the "red alert" COVID-19 level on Wednesday.A person in their 80s in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and a person 90 or older in the Campbellton region, Zone 5, have died, putting the province's death toll at 72.
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"It is our best protection against the virus," said MacMillan. "When combined with masking in public spaces, good hygiene, and other Public Health measures, vaccines can dramatically slow the spread of the virus."
The 71 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Wednesday are spread across all seven of the health zones and put the province's total active case count at 775.
Of the new cases, 50 – or 70.4 per cent – are unvaccinated, seven – or 9.9 per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 14 – or 19.7 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
Here is a breakdown of the new cases:
:
Five of these cases are under investigation and five are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
One case is under investigation, three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and the other three cases are travel-related.
Nineteen cases are under investigation, and the other two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
Thirteen of these cases are under investigation, and the other two are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
All five of these cases are under investigation.
Five of these cases are under investigation, five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases, and two are travel-related.
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This case is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
New Brunswick has had 4,741 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 3,895 recoveries so far.
A total of 479,392 tests have been conducted to date.
A total of 80.9 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 or older are fully vaccinated, up from 80.7 per cent on Tuesday, while 89.9 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine, up from 89.7.
The goal is to have at least 90 per cent of the total population double dosed.
Here is the vaccination rate by region, as of Wednesday, according to figures provided to CBC by the Department of Health.
1 | 80.4% |
2 | 79.3% |
3 | 75.3% |
4 | 73.7% |
5 | 77% |
6 | 77.8% |
7 | 82.5% |
All Canadians aged 12 or older must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 30 to travel by plane, train or marine vessel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.
All federal public servants must either get their shots by month's end or be forced into an unpaid leave of absence, he said.
To qualify as a "fully vaccinated traveller," a person must have received a full series of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine — a combination of approved shots is also acceptable — with the last dose having been administered at least 14 days prior to the day of travel.
There will be a "short transition phase," allowing travellers to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result instead of proof of vaccination, until Nov. 30.
"These travel measures, along with mandatory vaccination for federal employees, are some of the strongest in the world because when it comes to keeping you and your family safe, when it comes to avoiding lockdowns for everyone, this is no time for half measures," Trudeau said.
"If you've done the right thing and gotten vaccinated, you deserve the freedom to be safe from COVID. To have your kids be safe from COVID. To get back to the things you love."
The plan comes as public health authorities are urging vaccine holdouts to get their shots to curb a deadly fourth wave being driven by the highly transmissible delta variant in some provinces.
A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the province's only dedicated mental health hospital, says the Department of Health.
The outbreak at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton is affecting its operation, including the forensic psychiatry assessment unit, said department spokesperson Gail Harding.
"Vitalité Health Network is working closely with Justice and Public Safety to manage the situation," she said in an emailed statement, without elaborating on what steps are being taken.
The unit is the only place in the province where accused are sent for a 30-day psychiatric assessment to determine their fitness to stand trial and whether they are criminally responsible. Fifteen-day assessments can be done in jail.
Harding did not reveal how many cases have been confirmed at the hospital or say whether they involve patients or staff.
"Public Health has a duty to protect each individual's rights to privacy and cannot provide further breakdown which could lead to the re-identification of individuals or a group of individuals in a constant effort to avoid stigmatization or blame," she said.
Restigouche has 140 beds, according to Vitalité's website.
In addition to forensic psychiatry, the hospital provides specialized medium- and long-term psychiatric rehabilitation services, consultation and stabilization for those suffering from complex psychiatric problems or related illnesses, and care for those who are not fit to stand trial or have been found not criminally responsible because of mental disorders.
The New Brunswick Teachers' Federation has concerns about the province's new rapid testing program for schools.
Starting Tuesday, unvaccinated students who are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case will be provided with a supply of rapid tests.
Federation president Connie Keating told CBC's afternoon radio program Shift there are some questions in particular teachers want answered.
"What community resources would be put in place to assist schools and families in adhering to the rapid testing measures? … How will that be orchestrated? When will the specifics actually be communicated to teachers and families and who will be doing this? And lastly, will schools and families be provided with time to understand the implications of these procedures?"
Keating says schools are designed for teaching and learning, not as health–care centres.
She says teachers — already stretched during the course of the pandemic — are not health experts and shouldn't be policing vaccinations and rapid testing.
The province says the program is aimed at minimizing disruptions to learning due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at two more schools and three more early learning and child-care facilities across three health zones since Tuesday.
Seventy-eight schools and 44 early learning and child-care facilities have now been affected since the beginning of the school year on Sept. 7.
The total number of cases and the breakdown of students versus teachers and staff have not been released.
In the Moncton region, Zone 1, a case was confirmed at l in Moncton.
"A new case or cases" have also been confirmed at and , which are all located in Moncton and were previously impacted, Public Health said in a news release.
A positive case was also confirmed at each of the following early learning and child-care facilities: the and , both located in Moncton.
In the Fredericton region, Zone 3, a new case was confirmed at each of the following schools which were previously impacted: and in Fredericton.
In the Edmundston region, Zone 4, a new case or cases were confirmed at in Drummond and in Grand Falls.
A case was also confirmed at in Edmundston.
In addition, a new case was confirmed at in Saint-Léonard, which was previously impacted.
People who have been in close contact with a case will be notified directly by Public Health or the school or facility for contact tracing, the release said.
Under New Brunswick's Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses.
The University of New Brunswick has cancelled its in-person fall graduation ceremonies, given the growing number of COVID-19 cases across the province.
Convocation ceremonies were scheduled to be held in Fredericton next Thursday and in Saint John next Friday.
"We have been very much looking forward to celebrating graduates' academic achievements in person and have dedicated substantial efforts and resources in ensuring that the celebration was well planned, memorable and safe," a notice on the university's website states.
"However, the current circumstances across the province are making it very challenging to hold an in-person graduation."
The decision to cancel is a difficult but necessary one, it said, in the best interests of graduates, their guests, the UNB community and the wider New Brunswick community.
These would have been the first graduation ceremonies to take place in person since the fall of 2019.
Graduates from last year and this spring who took part in virtual ceremonies had also been invited to participate.
Nova Scotia reported one new death and 25 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There are 15 people in hospital with the virus, including five who are in intensive care. The province's active case load now stands at 254.
Newfoundland and Labrador reported nine new cases. Fourteen people are in hospital and the province has 132 active cases
Prince Edward Island reported one new case on Tuesday, and has nine active cases.
The following are new public exposures released by Public Health on Wednesday:
Public Health recommends that people who have been at a possible public exposure site and are not fully vaccinated get a COVID test, even if they don't have symptoms. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811.
If they do have symptoms, they must isolate while they await their results.
For people who are fully vaccinated, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID test if symptoms develop.
Anyone who frequented the locations at the specified dates and times should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters for the next 14 days.
The following are exposure notices from the past two weeks. For the full list beyond this time period, please visit the Government of New Brunswick's website.
Public Health has identified a case of COVID-19 in a person who may have been infectious while on the following flights:
Public Health has also identified other places in the province where people may have been exposed to the virus over the past two weeks.
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:
People concerned they might have COVID-19 can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should stay at home, call 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.
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