After two weeks under the Orange level of the COVID-19 recovery plan, the Moncton Zone 1 Health Region is officially moving back to the Yellow level at 12:01 a.m. Friday (October 23).
New Brunswick Public Health says the outbreak – which began at the Manoir Notre-Dame in Moncton earlier this month – is now under control based on a consistent downward trend in cases and a significant decline in the risk of further infections.
Businesses such as hairdressers, barbers, gyms, spas, theatres, cinemas and arenas are now permitted to reopen and public gatherings both outdoors and indoors can now be a maximum of 50 people.
Meantime, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell says the Campbellton Zone 5 Region will remain in the Orange level of recovery with another restriction – residents must limit their contact to a single household bubble only as of midnight.
“We learned lessons since the beginning of the pandemic and have expanded the single household bubble to include caregivers, and immediate family to help with the daily functions of life and to prevent the mental health toll of isolation.”
Russell adds the community of Belledune will be included in Zone 5 since it’s at a high risk for infection but the community of Kedgwick will not be included since it’s at a low risk.
Three new cases of COVID-19 are being reported today – all are in Zone 5 and remain under investigation:
- one individual in their 40s;
- two individuals in their 50s.
Four COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded and the province still has 81 active cases of the virus.
