What is the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.
Is COVID-19 in New Brunswick?
There have been a total of 62,148 cases of COVID-19 in New Brunswick since 2020.
It is recommended that you always use infection-prevention actions such as getting vaccinated against COVID-19 (including your boosters), hand washing, coughing and sneezing into your sleeve, wearing a face mask (especially indoors or in places with poor ventilation) and staying at home if you feel ill. If you have the symptoms of COVID-19 you should stay home and call Tele-Care at 811 to determine what you should do.
What are the Symptoms of COVID-19?
Below is a graphic showing the symptoms of Covic-19, influenza and colds. Some of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include Fever, Cough, and Difficulty Breathing / Shortness of Breath. If you have symptoms, call Tele-Care at 811 before visiting your healthcare provider. We've created an infographic to help differentiate between COVID-19, Influenza and Pneumonia, available here.
What does COVID-19 mean for people living with lung disease?
People with lung disease are among those who are most at risk of developing a serious case of COVID-19, as their respiratory health is already compromised.
If you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or believe you have otherwise been exposed to COVID-19 or are confirmed to have this infection, stay home and contact your respirologist and primary care provider for advice right away.
Call your respirologist and primary care provider if you have recently travelled from an area that has known cases of COVID-19
It is also highly important that you take actions to reduce the risk of getting sick with the disease, including:
- Making sure you have adequate supplies and medications
- Practice social distancing by keeping away from others who are sick (6 feet is recommended)
- Wash hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds. When unable to wash hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid non-essential travel
- If there is an outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to avoid exposure
- Avoid close contact (at least 6 feet away) with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
On March 27th the Lung Association held a webinar focused on COVID-19 and people living with lung disease. A list of Frequently Asked Questions has been collected, with answers from lung health professionals.
Is there any link between vaping/smoking/water pipe use and susceptibility to COVID-19?
Yes. The use of shared water pipes has been linked to the spread of certain infectious diseases. Furthermore, the use of cold water in the water pipes can facilitate survival of bacteria and/or viruses. While information regarding susceptibility of those who smoke to contracting COVID-19 is still forthcoming, we do know that those who smoke are two to four times more likely to contract bacterial and/or viral infections.
COVID-19 Modes of transmission
COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings, shouts, or talks. The droplets vary in size, from large droplets that fall to the ground rapidly (within seconds or minutes) near the infected person, to smaller droplets, sometimes called aerosols, which linger in the air, especially in indoor spaces.
The relative infectiousness of droplets of different sizes is not clear. Infectious droplets or aerosols may come into direct contact with the mucous membranes of another person's nose, mouth or eyes, or they may be inhaled into their nose, mouth, airways and lungs. The virus may also spread when a person touches another person (i.e., a handshake) or a surface or an object (also referred to as a fomite) that has the virus on it, and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands. Learn more about COVID-19 and modes of transmission, including the importance of ventilation, on Health Canada's website.
Where do I find more information?
We will continue to provide information to New Brunswickers as it becomes available. For more information, visit Health Canada, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health website.
Mental Health Support
Mental & Physical Wellbeing During the Pandemic
Vaccine Priority Statement for those living with lung disease and immunity challenges
Canadians living with a lung disease and pre and post - lung transplant are among the most vulnerable during the pandemic. This is why alongside a roundtable of organizations who represent and work closely with Canadians living with these diseases, we’re urging governments across Canada to prioritize these individuals in #COVID19 vaccination programs.
"Mask up for someone you love!" A joint letter from the COVID-19 Respiratory Roundtable
As provincial, territorial and federal public health guidelines on COVID-19 continue to evolve, we recognize that people, businesses and workplaces will react differently to these changes. Nevertheless, a common goal for all Canadians is to remain healthy. As a group of professional societies and patient organizations working closely with individuals living with lung disease and supporting the lung health of Canadians, members of the COVID-19 Respiratory Roundtable are concerned about the ongoing risk of COVID-19, particularly in the wake of easing of public health restrictions. The COVID-19 Respiratory Roundtable urges Canadians to continue wearing a mask indoors especially in poorly ventilated areas and when physical distancing may not be possible or proves to be challenging in crowded areas. If wearing a face mask is not possible, we recommend that individuals instead minimize exposure to indoor congregate settings.
Read the joint letter from the COVID-19 Respiratory Roundtable.