N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 1 death, pandemic isn't over because Higgs 'wishes it to be,' warns Coon
CBC
Green Party Leader David Coon says if Premier Higgs is going to continue to relax pandemic Public Health measures, he must do so slowly while making "significant provisions" in the March budget to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
"The pandemic isn't winding down just because Premier Higgs wishes it to be the case," Coon said in a statement, as the province recorded another COVID-related death Thursday and hospitalizations decreased by 10 to 79.
New Brunswick will enter Level 1 of the COVID-19 winter plan, the least restrictive level, on Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Higgs has said he hopes to lift all COVID restrictions in March.
"Last fall we saw the negative consequences of removing all public health requirements while we were still in a pandemic," said Coon, suggesting dropping restrictions in July affected the severity of the fourth wave.
He has been "hearing concerns and anxiety from seniors, people who have disabilities or chronic health problems, and parents with children who are too young to be vaccinated," he said.
The province must put in place a plan that protects those most vulnerable to serious illness, hospitalizations and death.
This should include funding to upgrade the ventilation in public buildings, provide universal access to N95 masks, and ensure all New Brunswickers have access to paid sick days so they can stay home when they test positive, Coon said.
In an emailed statement, Higgs said Coon was part of the all-party cabinet committee on COVID-19 leading up to the province's opening up last summer.
"He is aware of Public Health's recommendation and how the committee and cabinet arrived at its decision in terms of lifting restrictions at that time," he said.
"Public Health's advice remains the cornerstone for decisions made," he added.
The COVID-related death reported Thursday is a person in their 70s in the Miramichi region, Zone 7, according to the dashboard.
Of the 79 people in hospital, 39 were admitted for COVID-19, and 40 were admitted for something else when they tested positive for the virus.
Nine people are in intensive care, unchanged from Wednesday, and five of them are on ventilators, also unchanged.
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