N.B. Top Doctor Says Pandemic Isn’t Over Yet, Despite Restrictions Lifting
MONCTON–The province’s chief medical officer of health expects to see more surges in Covid-19 cases and more variants of the virus going forward.
Dr. Jennifer Russell says the restrictions have been lifted but the pandemic is not over yet.
Over the last two years, Russell gives credit to the Covid-19 cabinet committee when it comes to making big decisions.
“Recommendations were definitely respected and heard and I think that’s the best we can really hope for. We also had a lot of compliance and cooperation with the public which, I think has been key to our success.”
Russell says the province has passed its peak of the Omicron variant in young people under the age of 19.
She notes how the number of hospitalizations has been stabilizing lately.
“Our modeling showed that with each time we lift restrictions, we will see a tiny bump in cases and hospitalizations. That’s not unusual and that’s not unexpected. But hopefully, it will be short-lived and then we’ll see a downward trend.”
The mandatory order may be over but Russell says Public Health will keep managing and monitoring the virus as we go along.
She adds Public Health still strongly encourages the use of masks especially for the immunocomprised and those close to them.
This is the second time since the pandemic started in March 2020 that the Higgs government has ended the mandatory order and lifted restrictions.
The first time was last August and shortly after, both cases and deaths climbed which prompted the return of the mandatory order less than eight weeks later.
Allan Dearing is a reporter with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.