Nursing homes loosen COVID-19 restrictions in transition to 'new normal'
CBC
New Brunswick nursing homes have loosened COVID-19 restrictions as they transition to the "new normal" of living with the virus, says the head of the association.
But exactly what rules have changed and what precautions are being taken is unclear.
"Certainly COVID hasn't gone away, it's still in our communities, it's still around," said Julie Weir, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.
"But it's about having the right level of protection for the residents and the staff, but still allowing them to live their lives and have a good quality of life."
Some measures, such as employee masking, remain in place, Weir said.
Asked about other measures, such as whether infected employees still have to stay home from work, however, she said CBC would need to speak to individual homes. "I don't have that level of specificity."
She also directed CBC to Public Health when asked to clarify if the department has no blanket rule regarding what homes can do about sick employees.
Department of Health spokesperson Abigail McCarthy, meanwhile, said "vulnerable settings can continue using enhanced infection and prevention control measures as per their discretion."
"Specific questions about restrictions in New Brunswick nursing homes would be best directed to the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes or specific homes," she said in an emailed statement.
At least 12 nursing homes are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, the Department of Health confirmed to CBC News last week.
There are also outbreaks at 16 congregate living facilities, such as retirement residences and special care homes, the department confirmed.
COVID-19 killed seven more New Brunswickers in the past week, raising the pandemic death toll 599, Tuesday's COVIDWatch report shows.
Twenty-three people were newly admitted to hospital because of COVID between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5, and there are 33 people currently hospitalized because of the virus, five of whom require intensive care, according to the province.
Meanwhile, the two regional health authorities say there are 146 people hospitalized either for or with COVID, including 10 in intensive care.
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