NB Chief Medical Officer of Health – Dr Jennifer Russell

The entire province is being ordered into the Orange Level as of midnight tonight as Public Health tries to get the upper hand on what is being described as the arrival of the “second wave” of the COVID virus. Twenty-seven new cases have been confirmed in the past 24-hours – the highest daily count since the pandemic was declared last March.

Three of the cases are here in the Saint John region including two at the Shannex complex in Millidgeville. The Moncton region is reporting nine cases – the Fredericton Central region has 11-new cases – there are two new cases in the Edmundston region – and there are also two new cases in the Campbellton region.

The total number of active cases has jumped to 80 in the past 24-hours. Here in Saint John we now have 4-active cases. Nine people have died of COVID complications since the pandemic was declared last March.

The rapid increase in cases over the past three days has Chief Medical Officer of Health – Dr Jennifer Russell – concerned about the potential impact on the health care system.

Adding to Russell’s concern about the impact on the healthcare system is the fact there are 60-healthcare workers around the province are off work due to COVID related issues.

Here are the heightened restrictions included in the Orange Level: