In a memo last Thursday, a day before he was fired in a major shakeup of health leadership, Dornan advised staff “multiple indicators have shown an increase” in the virus across New Brunswick over the past two weeks. The incidence of COVID-19 has increased from 60 cases per 100,000 to 129, and the province’s PCR test positivity rate has doubled to 20 percent, according to the memo obtained by CBC News. Horizon spokesman Kris McDavid confirmed Monday that the note is authentic. The number of patients who were either admitted to a Horizon hospital because of COVID or were initially admitted for another reason and later tested positive for the virus rose to 104 from 29, the memo said. There are now cases of COVID at 15 Horizon hospital units, up from two. And staff absenteeism due to COVID has increased from an average of 50 to an average of 150, Dornan advises. “Given these relative trends, Horizon and Vitalité continue to monitor the data and will make an evidence-based decision on [infection prevention control] alert levels,” he wrote, noting that similar increases in COVID activity are being seen in other provinces. “Please consider setting an example in our community by wearing masks when indoors, when shopping, etc. As part of our wider community, all 14,000 of us can be good examples.”
There are no plans for a mandatory mask
Coverage has not been required in New Brunswick since March 14, when all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Last week, the province’s chief medical officer said a return to mandatory coverage or other protective restrictions was not being considered. “At this point … we’re not having that conversation,” Dr. Jennifer Russell told CBC News. “The message right now is about vaccination, because that’s the thing that will reduce the risk of people having serious outcomes and needing hospitalisation.” Dornan urged Horizon’s approximately 14,000 staff members to maintain continuous masking in healthcare facilities and to consider masking in indoor public spaces in the community as an example to others as the transmission of COVID-19 increases across the province. (Submitted by AHS) New Brunswick’s decision to focus only on COVID-19 vaccination in the face of rising COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious Omicron BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants is a “poor strategy,” according to infection control epidemiologist Colin Furness. He predicted it would fail and put children under five, who are currently unvaccinated, at greater risk. Asked Monday if the province’s position on the mask has changed, Department of Health spokesman Shawn Berry responded in an email: “Public Health has consistently sent messages about the value of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions that help reduce risk to themselves and the others. “A mask is one of many tools that people can choose to reduce the risk to themselves and others from COVID-19.” Asked what role Dornan’s note played in his ouster on Friday, Berry said the two events were “not related.” Dornan, who was named chairman and CEO only in March after serving in the role in an interim capacity for about seven months, declined to comment. Provinces need to recognize that COVID-19 is airborne and educate people about using respirators, said infection control epidemiologist Colin Furness. (Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters) Prime Minister Blaine Higgs announced Dornan was fired, Dorothy Shephard was fired as health minister and the boards of Horizon and Vitalité were removed, citing a growing health care crisis that included the “traumatic” death of a patient on Tuesday in a Fredericton Emergency Department. room. Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s vice president of clinical services, will serve as Dornan’s interim replacement. Bruce Fitch was appointed health minister and Shephard takes over as social development minister. In place of the boards of directors for the two health authorities, Higgs said his government had appointed Susan Johnston and Gerald Richard as trustees for Horizon and Vitalité, respectively. In addition to masking in the public, Dornan asked staff in the memo to maintain continuous masking at Horizon facilities and practice good hand hygiene. They should also continue to follow infection prevention and control guidelines, particularly physical distancing and occupancy limits at lunchtimes, he said, “as the risk of transmission increases significantly when your mask is removed while eating or drinking.” If staff have community or occupational exposure to COVID, they should use on-site testing clinics, Dornan said. If they have “ANY” symptoms of the virus, he emphasized in capital letters, they should get tested. Dornan thanked staff for their “continued diligence and support” in dealing with the pandemic. “Please stay safe and take time to recharge,” he concluded.
