N.B. COVID-19 roundup: COVID vaccine registration info coming 'soon,' 1 new case
The New Brunswick government says it will "soon" have more details to share on how people can register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
"An online registration component will be part of that process for some groups," said Department of Health spokesperson Shawn Berry.
Clinics for more than 2,400 residents at 121 licensed long-term care facilities are slated to take place this week, Public Health said in a news release Monday.
First-dose clinics for residents of all licensed long-term care facilities are expected to be completed by the week of March 14.
The first phase of vaccinations also targets front-line health-care workers and Indigenous adults. A clinic is expected to be held this week in Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, followed by community clinics in other First Nations.
People 85 and older will then be able to register under the province's revised vaccine rollout plan.
Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in April, will include people with "select complex medical conditions," and people 40 and older with three or more select chronic conditions, according to the government's website.
Details about which conditions will be included will be shared prior to registration opening for this group, said Berry, but some examples are: people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy, adults with Down's syndrome, and adults on dialysis.
Similarly, Phase 3, which is scheduled to begin in June, lists people with two or more "select chronic health conditions."
The government will provide more details about what those conditions are before registration begins, but a few examples include: chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes requiring medication, Berry said.
"Generally, the care provider offering the vaccination will be aware of the patient's conditions and have access to electronic health records and medication profiles that will help inform whether an individual has multiple chronic conditions."
Berry did not respond to questions about how the province plans to deal with the thousands of people in the province who don't have a family doctor.
As of Dec. 31, a total of 44,226 people were registered with Patient Connect New Brunswick, which pairs residents with a family doctor.
Berry also did not respond to questions about the doctors who don't use electronic health records or the patients with chronic conditions who don't take medications, such as diabetics who control the disease through diet.
Updated vaccine numbers
According to the province's COVID-19 dashboard, updated Monday afternoon, the current vaccine numbers are as follows:
46,775 doses received.
33,741 doses administered.
13,034 doses held in reserve for second shot and planned clinics.
12,142 fully vaccinated (with two of the required two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
1 new case
Public Health reported one new case of COVID-19 on Monday.
The case is an individual 30 to 39 years old in the Miramichi region, Zone 7. The person is self-isolating, and the case is under investigation.
The Zone 7 case brings the number of zones with zero active cases down to three from Sunday's count of four. Currently, the Fredericton, Campbellton and Bathurst regions have zero active cases.
There are now 36 active cases in New Brunswick.
The number of confirmed cases in the past year is 1,431. Since Sunday, three people have recovered for a total of 1,367 recoveries.
There have been 27 deaths.
Two patients are in hospital, and both are in intensive care. A total of 229,237 tests have been conducted, including 458 since Sunday's report.
315 cases still under investigation
Although the provincial COVID-19 case count continues to decline, Public Health is still investigating the origin of 315 cases.
In order to classify these cases as being travel-related, close contact, or community transmission, the central and regional offices must discuss each case and come to an agreed-upon classification, said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.
"This process is time intensive," he said in an emailed statement without providing any details, except that it can take longer when there are active outbreaks.
The cases are from all seven health regions and date back to Dec. 14, said Macfarlane. One new case was reported in the Moncton region, Zone 1, that day.
"Public Health is working towards finalizing the case status."
Researchers study personalities to help COVID-rules compliance
People's personality traits can tell a lot about how they'll follow COVID-19 protocols set out by government.
That's why researchers at the University of New Brunswick are encouraging people to take part in a survey that looks at personality traits.
The goal is to help governments tailor their messaging to ensure broader compliance.
"People who who have a little bit more anxiety might be more likely to follow the rules," said Lisa Best, a psychology professor at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus.
"Some of these people who are a little bit more extroverted may have a harder time complying with the rules."
Researchers are looking for survey participants.
What to do if you have a symptom
People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included:
A fever above 38 C.
A new cough or worsening chronic cough.
Sore throat.
Runny nose.
Headache.
New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell.
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 Tele-Care 811 or their doctor.
Describe symptoms and travel history.
Follow instructions.
