FOG BLOG NB COVID 19 LOG: EDMUNDSTON TO GO INTO LOCKDOWN AGAIN , 10 NEW CASES WITH MORE VARIANTS:

New Brunswick reports 10 new COVID-19 cases Monday, two variant cases identified...New Brunswick is reporting 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Thirteen previously reported cases are now considered recovered, as the active number of cases in the province drops to 145.

Six of Monday's new cases were identified in the Edmundston region (Zone 4). They involve:

two people 19 and under;
an individual 20-29;
an individual 30-39;
an individual 50-59; and
an individual 60-69...Two of the six new cases in the Edmundston region are contacts of a previously-confirmed cases and the other four are under investigation.

Four of Monday's new cases were identified in the Moncton region (Zone 1). They involve:

an individual 20-29;
an individual 30-39; and
two people 40-49.

One of the four new cases in the Moncton region is linked to travel and the other three are under investigation.

TWO VARIANT CASES CONFIRMED

New Brunswick health also confirmed two previously identified cases in the Saint John region (Zone 2) have been identified as the B.1.3.5.1 variant, first found in South Africa.

“Today’s news further reinforces the need for every New Brunswicker to follow public health guidelines,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “These new variants are more contagious, so it is important that we take the necessary precautions now to reduce the transmission of the virus and any of its variants in our communities.”

According to public health, one of the variant cases is related to travel outside of Canada, and the other case is a close contact of that travel case.