At a press conference in Fredericton on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell announced the decision to move Zone 1 (Moncton region), Zone 2 (Saint John region) and Zone 3 (Fredericton region) back to the Red level of COVID-19 Recovery at midnight. Zone 4 (Edmundston region) remains at the Red level under the province’s COVID-19 recovery plan. Zones 5, 6 and 7 remain at the Orange level. Dr. Russell said the choice to make the roll back Zone 1, 3 and 3 was not made lightly but was decidedly a pre-emptive move to get the province back on track after a spike in cases after the holiday season.

“We have to get to herd immunity over the next several months while continuing to battle new variants, new travel-related cases, delays in vaccine delivery and while protecting the health-care system, health-care workers and our vulnerable populations,” said Dr. Russell.

“This is a critical moment,” said Premier Blaine Higgs at the press conference. “If case numbers continue to rise now that four health zones have moved to the Red level, we will have to go back into a full lockdown like we did in March. Public Health will have more information soon about how that lockdown would work, as well as additional measures that would be put in place if moving to the Red level is not effective.”

Public Health reported 31 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, which makes for 316 active cases overall and a total of 1004 cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick since the pandemic began. Reaching the four-digit milestone of cases wasn't the only sobering news of the conference. Public Health also confirmed the thirteenth death of a New Brunswicker to the virus. The individual was between the ages of 80-89 and was a resident of Lily Court of Parkland Saint John's Tucker Hall in Zone 2. This person died a result of underlying complications, including COVID-19.

“Marcia and I are saddened to learn of the death of another New Brunswicker as a result of COVID-19,” said Premier Higgs. “We offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones of this person.”

“My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends who are grieving this loss,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “I encourage all New Brunswickers to keep these people in their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time, as well as the others who have lost someone they love to this virus.”