Virus crosses border, as three on Campobello contract COVID-19

Three people on Campobello Island have tested positive for COVID-19, including a man who was exposed to the virus at his workplace in Maine. These are the first cases in Charlotte County, and as of November 23 other people on the island have not tested positive for the virus.
The Campobello man, as well as other workers, were in direct contact with another employee at the workplace who tested positive the first week of November. The company then required all of the workers to be tested at the Calais Regional Hospital's swab and send site. After a test came back positive, the Campobello individual immediately went into self-isolation, as did those living in his household and any who had direct contact with him.
New Brunswick Public Health conducted contact tracing, and all direct contacts were tested. The male individual was retested in New Brunswick as well. All but one of the direct contact tests came back negative. Even if a test is negative, Public Heath requires everyone to isolate for 14 days, after last exposure to the positive person, in case any symptoms arise. Only those contacted by Public Health directly were required to isolate.
The one positive case was a family member living in the same household as the Campobello worker. Contact tracing information was gathered, and all direct contacts were identified and notified. More testing was done, and only one came back positive, a person who is a close friend. All of their direct contacts are isolating as well.
All three positive cases on the island only experienced minor symptoms of sore throat, loss of taste and smell and headaches, and all three were in contact with Public Health daily. Public Health also is making daily phone calls to everyone who is in isolation and monitoring their health. Retesting is required after 10 days have passed. So far there have been no further cases on the island.
While concerns have been expressed about exposure at the Campobello Island Consolidated School, since a few of the direct contacts are students at the school, Public Health has been trying to alleviate those concerns. The students, all of whom tested negative, are isolating at home. On November 16 a virtual meeting was held during which parents and teachers could ask questions and state their concerns. This meeting helped clarify some of the guidelines in place if there should be a positive case confirmed within the school.
Dorinda Davis of Campobello relates that, as she has family members dealing with COVID-19, she was "extremely worried for both, as well as for the friend, and all direct contacts who were placed in isolation." She says that all have been taking the necessary precautions and following guidelines set in place about social distancing, sanitizing, wearing masks, yet still her family members contracted the virus.
She adds, "Having to deal with this has given me a new perspective and insight on COVID 19. I interact with the public on a daily basis for my job, so I will definitely be more aware of the lesser symptoms and not just the major ones."
Davis notes that the support from the community towards those who have tested positive and those in isolation from having direct contact "has been overwhelming. People are reaching out with well wishes, dropping off needed food and household supplies, as well as homemade treats." She adds, "I have heard from many who have reached out to the family that it was just a matter of time before it came to the island, and now that is has arrived, hopefully everyone will be more cautious than ever. Many have said as a community they need to stay supportive of us, and together everyone will get through this."
Because there are misconceptions about the virus, the family wants to relay to the public some information that they have learned from Public Health nurses. A positive person is only contagious for the first three to four days after they contract COVID-19, which is why contact tracing is only done for specific days. A person who tests positive is not required to be retested. After 14 days of isolation, a person with only minor or no symptoms is cleared by Public Health to return to their normal routines.
If a test is taken too early, it can come back negative. That is why Public Health requires people to isolate and retest on the 10th day to make sure they are still negative.
The only people who need to isolate are those who were in direct contact with a positive person and are contacted by Public Health to do so. There could be people who live in the same household of someone who was told to isolate but who are told they only have to self monitor for symptoms.
Also, not everyone who has COVID 19 has the same symptoms. Some may have major symptoms, others just minor symptoms and some may not have any at all.

Public Health issues update
On November 23, Public Health reported that the number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 445, with 349 people having recovered. There have been seven deaths, and the number of active cases is 89, with no hospitalized cases.
"As a province, we need a renewed commitment to slowing the spread of COVID 19. And we need it now," says Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. "We need everyone in all corners of the province to reduce their close contacts to the lowest number possible and to follow public health measures."
Zone 2, the Saint John region, remains at the orange level under the province's COVID 19 recovery plan. Residents are reminded that among the rules at the orange level are to stick to a one household bubble, maintain two meters of distancing and wear a mask while in indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Restaurants and other seated venues will now ask patrons for identification as part of their record keeping process. This will ensure that, in the orange zones, those sitting together are keeping to their one household bubble, and it will also ensure the accuracy of the names being given for contact tracing. Public Health has discovered during their contact tracing that some people have not been giving their real names and contact information when asked.
Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have announced changes to the Atlantic bubble. All travellers into these two provinces, including New Brunswickers travelling for work, will have to self isolate for 14 days upon their arrival. The changes do not affect New Brunswickers returning home after working in these provinces.
Police officers, as well as peace officers with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, Public Health inspectors and inspectors with WorkSafe New Brunswick, are working in all zones of the province to make sure the rules are being followed. They have been visiting businesses and public spaces to ensure compliance with the provisions of the mandatory order, including the wearing of masks and the provision of COVID 19 operational plans. People who refuse to comply with provisions of the mandatory order are being charged.