Tantramar Covid-19 Task Force

Reminder that the contests start tomorrow! Make sure to post your photo with the designated hashtag (and with it shared publicly or as a direct message) for your chance to win either a grand prize or honourary prizes!

New COVID-19 border measures for New Brunswick workers travelling or returning to the province for work purposes come into effect at midnight tonight. To furth...er protect the health and safety of New Brunswickers, we are accepting the recommendation of Public Health and implementing these new COVID-19 border measures, Premier Blaine Higgs said. These measures are necessary because almost 95 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in our province are the result of travel or someone who has been in close contact with another traveller who was positive. Workers entering or returning to New Brunswick from outside the Atlantic bubble are now subject to modified self-isolation directives for 14 days with the option of returning to regular public health measures in the province by being voluntarily tested for COVID-19 and having negative results and no symptoms. This does not apply to truckers or daily commuters. It also does not apply to people travelling into the province under the authority of an operational plan approved by WorkSafe New Brunswick, as this already involves a work-isolation requirement. The risks of COVID-19 are increasing outside the Atlantic bubble which means we have to double down on decreasing risks within New Brunswick and the Atlantic Bubble to get us through the winter, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. As outlined in the state of emergency mandatory order, which was renewed today, modified self-isolation means a 14-day period during which a person is able to leave isolation to access essential goods and services, including necessities of life and supporting services, health care, goods and services required for work, banking and financial services, transportation, child care, animal care, and funeral or visitation services for members of their immediate family. In addition, a person can be voluntarily tested for COVID-19 up to three times depending upon the length of their stay in the province. Testing must be scheduled using the online self-referral tool and will be completed at an assessment centre nearest the individual. For example, a New Brunswick worker who has returned and plans to remain in the province for three weeks before leaving again will be required to undergo modified self-isolation unless they are voluntarily tested three times around days 0-2, 5-7, and 10-12. If the first test comes back negative, they are relieved from modified self-isolation until their next test. If after the third test they are free of symptoms and continue to test negative, they would no longer be subject to modified self-isolation after the 10th day. Individuals will need to continue to wear a mask while in public and follow Public Health guidance. Individuals intending to remain in New Brunswick for shorter periods can be tested the number of times required based upon the length of their stay. If they plan to remain in the province for one to four days they would need one test to exit modified self-isolation. If they plan to remain five to nine days, two tests would be required. A 14-day self-isolation upon entering or returning to the province is still required for non-essential travel such as following a vacation, visiting family or moving to New Brunswick. Under the mandatory order, travel into Restigouche County by residents of Listuguj First Nation and of Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec for the purpose of accessing essential goods and services not available in their own community up to two times within a seven day period is now restricted to between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Those residents who have pre-registered and been approved through the New Brunswick Travel Registration Program are permitted to enter without self-isolation to attend school, to access child care, or to obtain essential goods and services. Public Health and the Department of Justice and Public Safety will monitor the impact of these changes to inform future travel options. Zone 5 remains in Orange level Zone 5 remains in the Orange level of recovery and residents have to limit their contact to a single household bubble plus formal or informal caregivers and members of their immediate family (parents, children, siblings and grand-parents. It is recommended that residents keep contacts to a minimum. Outbreak at an adult-residential facility Public Health is declaring an outbreak at Résidence 4 Saisons, an adult residential facility in Balmoral. Following a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Public Health started an investigation and sent additional staff and resources to the facility. They have started contact tracing and will conduct rapid testing of the facility’s residents and staff today. COVID-19 testing in Belledune Testing is available for people in Belledune who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. Testing will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Belledune Recreation and Cultural Centre between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Screening tests will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. People with symptoms are asked to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment at the nearest screening centre. New cases Public Health reported four new cases of COVID-19 today, as follows: - one individual 60 to 69 in Zone 1 (Moncton region); - one individual 50 to 59 in Zone 5 (Campbellton region); and - two people 60 to 69 in Zone 5 (Campbellton region). All cases are self-isolating and under investigation. The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 341 and 294 have recovered. There have been six deaths, and the number of active cases is 41. Four patients are hospitalized. As of today, 101,030 tests have been conducted. https://www2.gnb.ca//en/news/news_release.2020.10.0562.html Details on cases and testing can be found on the GNB website. Mobile and most browsers: bit.ly/2BmLpeD IE users: bit.ly/2VsD1RV

HALLOWEEK continues, with only TWO days left until Halloween! . Today we are sharing games that you can play with your friends and your family, either virtually or in-person (while following public health guidelines). . Werewolf is a game that youth ages 10+ have been known to play over and over again! Check out this post to find out more!

Reminder: Have a Fun and Safe Halloween! . Be sure to review the guidelines for safely celebrating Halloween now that the Tantramar region has switched back to the YELLOW LEVEL.

HALLOWEEK continues with some top recommended movies categorized by spook level, and some fun music you can play around the house or in the car this week! . All week long we are sharing the many ways that you can safely celebrate Halloween during COVID-19! . Check out our event page for our Costume and Mask Decorating Competitions and see how you, or someone you know, could win one of our grand prizes (for ALL ages) or honourary prizes (specifically for school-age and univers...ity students). . Event Page: https://fb.me/e/21dY2W3W5 See more

We are finding new ways to celebrate Halloween this year while maintaining health and safety . The Town of Sackville is encouraging children and those young at heart, to write a story about zombies that come to Sackville on Halloween night and take over the town! Stories that are submitted to [email protected] will be posted up for others to read on the Town of Sackville Facebook page. [https://www.facebook.com/sackvilleNB/posts/3608098959210643]

HALLOWEEK has begun! . We will be posting fun foods, games, movies, music, and more all week long to help give you ideas for how to celebrate Halloween as safely and creatively as possible this year! . DAY 1: Spooky Halloween Foods [https://www.cbc.ca//halloween-food-art-11-wicked-ideas-tha]... This article posted by CBC Life has so many creepy and cool options for food that you can serve your family and close friends this Halloween. Which frightening food is your favourite? . . *REMINDER: All ages are invited to join in on Tantramar wide Costume Competition and Mask Decorating competition. There are 3 grand prizes to be won for each competition! All you have to do is post a photo on Facebook and use the hashtag #MyTantramask and/or #tantramarhalloween on October 31st to enter to win! More details can be found on the EVENT PAGE: https://fb.me/e/21dY2W3W5 See more

SPOOKY COMPETITIONS in the Tantramar Region The Youth and Student Action Group of the Tantramar COVID-19 Task Force is proud to be partnering with our local schools, and supported by United Way of Greater Moncton & Southeastern NB and the Rotary Club of Sackville, to offer a little COVID-19 friendly family activity for Halloween. DESIGN YOUR OWN MASK - Contest Rules... #MyTantramask All students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will receive a disposable mask at school on Wednesday or Thursday from the Task Force. Mount Allison students can pick-up a disposable mask at the MASU Office (Oct 26-30, from 8:30am-4:30pm). You can also use your own mask for the contest. Your task is to decorate your mask any way you wish: be creative, be funny, be bold or make a statement. No limits on creativity. There are lots of great ideas online to spur your imagination. (NOTE: These masks are not intended to be worn for long periods of time following decorating them). *If you are in school/university, please state your grade to be eligible for the Honourable Mentions prizes. COSTUME COMPETITION - Contest Rules #TantramarHalloween All ages in the Tantramar Region are invited to join in on the fun and share a photo of your Halloween Costume. If you choose to take a photo with a friend, make sure you are abiding by the NB Health guidelines surrounding COVID-19. *If you are in school/university, please state your grade/year of study to be eligible for the Honourable Mentions prizes. DEADLINE: Photos for both competitions are due by October 31st at midnight. Please post your photo on Facebook (check your privacy settings and make sure they are set to public, or direct message us the photo) and use the hashtag #MyTantramask for the Design Your Own Mask competition and #TantramarHalloween for the Costume Competition. PRIZES: The Grand Prizes for each competition consists of 3 categories meaning there will be 6 WINNERS that take home a box of 50 mini chocolate bars (peanut-free). The #MyTantramask grand prize categories include Best Design, Funniest and Most Elaborate. The #TantramarHalloween grand prize categories include Most Original, Best DIY, and Funniest. The Honourable Mentions prizes will be awarded to one student from each grade (judged against students in all 5 schools) in the Tantramar region, plus one from Mount Allison (overall). The honourable mentions prize is a 5$ gift certificate for Truman Blueberry Farms. The WINNERS will be announced on November 1st on the @TantramarCOVID19 Task Force Facebook page.

Two food security initiatives in Sackville are in need of volunteers and support The School Food Response Group and the Sackville Food Bank require assistance delivering food to youth and families. There is also a call out to the community looking for donations of egg cartons - please donate them to the School Food Response Group. If you are able to help out with either of these groups, please contact the listed emails on each post.

"The outbreak in Zone 1 has been brought under control and we are seeing fewer cases related to that outbreak and have identified links among all the reported cases. Today, Cabinet has confirmed that Zone 1 will transition BACK TO THE YELLOW PHASE OF RECOVERY at 12:01am on Friday [October 23]."