More than 500 health-care workers are already off work and isolating because of due to COVID-19 as a result of the highly transmissable Omicron variant, which currently makes up a minimum of 86% of the cases in the province. New Brunswick is currently on track to hit a new grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic of having 1000 new cases a day as early as this week.

“We are monitoring the health system very closely,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “As Omicron spreads across New Brunswick, case counts will continue to escalate and it will affect our health-care workforce. The Regional Health Authorities, Extra Mural / Ambulance New Brunswick and the Department of Health are on heightened alert and are diligently working, as they have throughout the holidays, to ensure critical life-saving services are there for New Brunswickers when needed.”

In order to ensure that not only our healthcare system but also society as a whole can continue to function, New Brunswick has changed its approach to isolation requirements. Vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 will now only need to isolate for five days while unvaccinated people will still be required to isolate for 10. Upon release from isolation, people must wear a mask continually and avoid vulnerable settings. The change is motivated by science that suggests Omicron is most contagous generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.

Premier Blaine Higgs is currently in isolation after contracting COVID-19 over the holidays and credits being vaccinated and boosted with his mild to moderate symptoms.

Starting this week, public health has changed its criteria for PCR testing in light of the abundance of Omicron cases. the province will reserve PCR tests for people who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19. These are: People in areas at highest risk, including health-care workers and those who live or work in long-term care facilities, homeless shelters and correctional facilities; People who are symptomatic and aged 50 and over; People who are symptomatic and immunocompromised or pregnant; People who need a PCR test for travel; People who are identified as a priority by Public Health.

Everyone else, including those who are symptomatic but under 50, will now need to confirm their positivity with a rapid test and register their results online at the GNB website.

“Our high-priority groups are at the greatest risk of serious illness due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “The best way to prevent serious illness is to follow public health guidance and get your COVID-19 booster shot.”

Public Health will also no longer be reporting public exposures as it shifts its focus away from contact tracing for the general public. It will be up to those infected to notify people they were in close contact with.

Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, students will not return to in-school learning on Jan. 10 but will move to home learning beginning Jan. 11. This measure will remain in place for at least two weeks and will then be assessed weekly.