At a press conference in Fredericton, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell and Premier Blaine Higgs addressed the alarming number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 amid the rising cases in New Brunswick during what is now the fourth wave of the virus in the province. There are 40 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 16 in an intensive care unit. No one under the age of 19 is currently hospitalized. Of the 71 hospitalizations between Aug. 1 and Sept. 28, 11 or 15.5 per cent were fully vaccinated, four or 5.6 per cent were partially vaccinated and 56 or 78.9 per cent were unvaccinated.

“I thank our frontline workers and first responders who have been working since the beginning of this pandemic to keep us safe,” said Higgs. “We are very aware we have a critical shortage of nurses in this province. The best thing we can do to help nurses is to increase the number of nurses working in New Brunswick hospitals – and we are committed to doing that.”

Despite the rise in cases, there is a also a rise in the number of younger New Brunswickers now lining up to get their first or second dose of a vaccine, which is partly due to the fact that New Brunswick implemented a proof of vaccination policy at many non-essential services last week. 

“I know it is never easy for businesses when new rules are introduced, but time and time again throughout the pandemic, the vast majority have stepped up and done what is needed, and I thank the business community for adapting so quickly,” said Higgs. “If you own or manage a business that is not making the effort required to keep us all safe, there will be consequences.”

As of September 29, 79.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 88.7 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine. Beginning in October, a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine will be available for seniors living in long-term care homes and other communal settings who have already received two doses of a vaccine.

“Our plan is to administer the booster dose along with our annual flu vaccine campaign,” said Dr. Russell. “New advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization makes it possible for us to provide both vaccines at the same time.”