Methinks Higgy is giggling at the fact that I am about to cancel 2 "non-urgent" appointments with the hospital and my doctor about my old ticker because of his orders N'esy Pas?
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said people are still gathering in large numbers, despite the government's advice to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Photo: CBC News)
Three new presumptive cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours, bringing the province's total to 11 confirmed or presumptive cases, the chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced on Wednesday.
She said some New Brunswickers are not following the government's advice to stay home to help prevent the spread of the "serious health threat" and she expects there will be "many" cases in the next few days.
"New Brunswick is not immune to the spread of the virus," Russell said.
Premier Blaine Higgs again emphasized the need for people to practise social distancing and said mandatory measures could soon follow.
"We aren't there yet, but as a province and as a country we will do what is necessary to keep residents safe," he told reporters during the daily update in Fredericton.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell announced 3 more COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick. 1:49
Higgs advised against playdates, joyriding in vehicles filled with people, sleepovers, and getting together with friends to watch movies.
"This is not a drill. This is reality like we've never seen before."
The latest cases include:
A woman in her 60s in the southeast, who had been on a cruise.
A man in his 60s in central New Brunswick, who had been in contact with an individual who had direct contact with a traveller.
A woman in her 60s in central New Brunswick, who had travelled to the United Kingdom.
Russell, too, reiterated the importance of people staying home and keeping a social distance of six feet, or about two metres, from others.
But on Wednesday, reporters were allowed to ask only one question each and were not allowed to follow up, even when the answers were confusing or incomplete.
Bruce Macfarlane, the spokesperson for the Health Department, brought the briefing to an end without explanation.
Nursing resources added to 811 line
New Brunswickers are still complaining about the long waits on the Tele-811 line.
After Wednesday's news conference, Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane said in an emailed statement, that additional nurses are being added to the Tele-811 line starting on Thursday.
"We expect to add more resources over the next few days," he said in an email.
The provincial government is following Public Health's advice to allow patients to book virtual appointments with their family doctor to curb the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Russell encouraged patients who don't have family doctors but need prescription renewals or help unrelated to the coronavirus to call 811. Normally these patients would try to go to clinics.
It wasn't clear from Russell's answer how the 811 service would get people help from doctors but she did say the province was working on the issue with the New Brunswick Medical Society.
Stockpiling could create drug shortages
Pharmacists in the province have been ordered to provide patients with medication for no more than 30 days at a time, the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists says.
The college warned that requesting early refills or stockpiling medication could create drug shortages and put others at risk.
Pharmacists in New Brunswick can prescribe medication for no more than 30 days. (Craig Chivers/CBC News)
"While there are currently no early warning signs of a global drug shortage, pharmacists are looking toward the long-term needs of New Brunswickers and want to ensure that medications are dispensed responsibly during this uncertain time," the College said in a news release.
Pharmacies and grocery stores will stay open across the province.
Parents won't be charged for daycare
Premier Blaine Higgs says parents will not be charged while daycares are closed, and essential services workers will continue to pay their regular rates for spaces.
"We are asking daycare operators not to increase their usual rates at this time.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a massive $82-billion aid package to help Canadians and businesses cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The province is trying to determine how this applies to daycares, Higgs said.
Operators have said they have to charge parents for spaces, even if daycares are closed to most children.
Horizon cancels non-urgent services
Horizon Health Network has started cancelling all non-urgent services at all of its hospitals, including:
Therapeutic services.
Laboratory services.
Diagnostic imaging.
The Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation.
Pharmacy.
Electrodiagnostics and respiratory therapy.
Dentists stop doing non-essential procedures
All non-essential and elective dental procedures are suspended until further notice, the New Brunswick Dental Society has announced.
Emergency procedures will still take place. An emergency procedure includes oral facial trauma, significant infection, prolonged bleeding or pain that can't be managed by over-the-counter medication.
Dental offices are rescheduling appointments with their clients and assessing what's an emergency and what's non-essential.
Help for homeless shelters
The Department of Social Development has put contingency plans in place, should a homeless shelter client develop symptoms.
A client with symptoms would be taken form the shelter and put in an alternative place. Then other clients would be tested.
Many homeless shelters are operating at or near capacity.
Reducing transit hours
Starting Wednesday, Fredericton Transit has switched to operating on a Saturday schedule, where buses will run every hour.
Codiac Transpo services in Moncton will be modified starting Friday.
From Monday to Saturday, all transit services will end at 6:30 pm. Sunday will remain unchanged. Starting Thursday, Saint John Transit will suspend all fare collection on all of its services.
Passengers will be asked to use the rear doors for boarding and exiting. For those with disabilities, the front door will continue to be used.
Saint John Transit continues to operate on its regular schedule. It's cleaning buses daily and has increased the cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
You can still give blood
The Canadian Blood Services has recorded an increase in appointment cancellations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Individual and group cancellations can have a dramatic impact on patients in Canada who continue to need blood products to treat cancers, trauma, and many surgeries," said Delphine Denis, a spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services.
"The increase in blood donation appointment cancellations is worrying, but a benefit of operating a national blood system is our ability to shift products around the country to meet hospital and patient needs."
Premier Blaine Higgs said Wednesday mandatory measures for people to stay home could soon follow. 1:50
The organization is adhering to the guidance of experts, federal and provincial governments. And that protocols for screening donors and cleaning sites "have always been extremely robust — respiratory infections are common and we are prepared."
The organization is also taking additional measures to enhance protocols to better protect anyone who comes to donate blood.
"To ensure we can continue to meet the needs of Canadian patients, we need everyone who is eligible and healthy to continue to book and honour their appointments to donate blood."
Protect your mental health
Chief medical health officer Jennifer Russell said it's important people look after themselves, both physically and mentally.
This includes healthy eating, exercise, proper sleep and doing different hobbies.
"Right now your mental health is just as important as your physical health," she said.
What to do about grocery shopping
If you're going out to the drugstore or to a grocery store, do it when stores aren't usually busy. The province advises you to keep that two-metre distance and wash your hands once you return home. Russell said some people are even wiping down the products they purchase once they return home.
Meals on Wheels continuing to deliver
Meals on Wheels, a volunteer service that delivers meals to vulnerable individuals and families in Fredericton, is still operating.
The organization has ordered minimal contact between clients and volunteers.
Betty Daniels, executive director for Meals on Wheels Fredericton, said packaged meals are being left outside a client's home. Volunteers must knock on the door and stand back to ensure clients receive their meal safely.
Individuals using the food bank will enter, check in with a computer operator and receive a bag of food from a volunteer. The Individual will then be asked to leave immediately.
Meanwhile, Greener Village in Fredericton, is temporarily closing its retail store, suspending its Learning Kitchen programming and restricting access to the food bank building.
Food Depot Alimentaire in Moncton, which serves food banks across southeastern New Brunswick, said it is not accepting walk-ins. People must call to book an appointment.
Food Depot Alimentaire also launched a food delivery service for seniors. And it's also providing food delivery services to children who were relying on food programming.
What to do if you have any symptoms?
Symptoms of coronavirus can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. With any of these, residents should:
David Amos Methinks Higgy is giggling at the fact that I am about to cancel 2 "non-urgent" appointments with the hospital and my doctor about my old ticker because of his orders N'esy Pas?
Greg Smith The pandemic is the governments fault for decades of whittling our health care system down to nothing. I don’t trust a word that comes from Higgs’ mouth, just weeks ago he was going to close 6 ER’s overnight, and now wants to act like our saviour? All he cares about is pleasing his Irving handlers, and won’t even be transparent enough to take questions. I’d happily risk infecting myself to go to the polls and get rid of this egregiously inept Premier.
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Smith: Me Too
Lou Bell Prescription renewal for 30 days only . My prescriptions arte for 90 day renewals ! My previous doctor wrote up my prescriptions for a year at a time , to be filled in 3 month intervals . His replacement insisted they write them up every 3 months ! I believe they get paid a fee for every time a prescription is written ! And more and more Doctors are breaking the million dollar a year barrier ! Wonder why no more !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Cry me a river At least you have a Medicare Card as you laugh at the fact that your hero Higgy is keeping a "Stay" on mine
Methinks some folks wonder why you Conservatives truly enjoy the fact that I have to pay for my emergency room bills and doctor fess for no reason I will ever understand N'esy Pas?
James Risdon Question: How come we haven't heard of any journalists getting the Covid-19 virus?
Journalists are out and about, milling around other people, all day, every day. If anyone could be expected to be at risk, I would think journalists would be right up there among the job occupations most at risk.
Has anyone heard of any Canadian journalist catching this thing?
Suzanne Tucker
Reply to @James Risdon: That is an excellent question, and I do hope no one!!
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: What is your point in making such a dumb question?
SarahRose Werner Just heard from my MLA, Gerry Lowe, re: doing something to mitigate the higher co-pay fees for participants of the NB Drug Plan and the NB Prescription Drug Program. He says he spoke to Ted Flemming about this today. E-mail your own MLA if want to see this happen. Can't hurt, might help.
Shawn McShane
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Property tax mitigation would go a long way. Those costs are another mortgage, higher than heat, electric and way more higher than drugs.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Shawn McShane: My landlord's not going to decrease my rent just because he gets his property tax mitigated. You want yours mitigated, you can contact your own MLA.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Say Hey to your buddy Gerry and his pal Don Darling and all the Saint John cops for me will ya? Methinks none of you in Saint john Harbour voted for me in 2006 N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks before I sue the Crown again somebody should ask your buddy Gerry why the liberals put a "Stay" on my right to Medicare years ago and why Higgy won't remove it to this very day N'esy Pas?
Greg Miller That's fine but as a senior I ask do all pharmacies have free delivery. If not it means seniors will have to go out and expose themselves to the environment 3x instead of once. Think about it!
Ray Bungay
Reply to @Greg Miller: A very good point Greg. This Doctor has dropped the ball yet again. Sad really
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Ray Bungay: Probably just doing what she is told Ray. You remember what happens "in this place" when the Chief Medical Officer doesn't do what they are told.
Greg Miller
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Exactly and this is one reason I miss Dr. Cleary -- big time!
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks everybody knows the lady willingly accepted the lucrative position under the "Do As I Am Told" conditions N'esy Pas?
