On today's Tantramar Report:

Sackville’s food bank has been helping people supplement their household grocery supply throughout the pandemic, making changes along the way. Recently, the food bank posted on social media reminding people that food security can be an issue for anyone, and that food bank services are indeed open to anyone. CHMA reporter David Gordon Koch checks in with director Heather Patterson about how the ongoing pandemic has affected clients and volunteers at the Food Bank.

And we take a look at the changing advice around the types of masks that can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We look at new rules recommending against cloth masks at Mount Allison, and what some experts are saying about surgical and cloth masks. We also talk with local mask-maker Christina Keaveney of Masks-R-Aid about how her business has changed over the course of the pandemic.

Plus, more local news and information:

Vaxx clinic appointments in Sackville

As of Thursday night there are appointments available for those 12 and older at the next public health vaccination clinic at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre on Monday January 24th. 33.2% of the population of New Brunswick now have a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and the province says there are more than 30,000 booster appointments available before the end of the month.

Appointments are also available for kids aged 5 to 11 for Saturday, February 5th at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre. According to the town of Sackville, the centre is booked for two more days in February– the 7th and 24th– though those dates are not yet available for booking. Public Health says clinics are being added to the online schedule on a daily basis.

Nearly 52,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the province in the past week, just slightly fewer than were administered the previous week. By far most of the new doses were booster shots, nearly 47,000.

Just 3200 first doses were given. The kids’ vaccine rollout appears to have stalled, with only 53% of kids having had their first shot.

Spike in PCR testing

If Thursday’s numbers are any indication, testing is ramping up in New Brunswick.

The province reported a big increase in the number of tests administered yesterday. 4580 tests were reported province-wide, the highest daily count in at least a year, and more than double the daily average as of late, which has remained just over 2000 tests per day for the past month. The majority of Thursday’s tests–3050 of them–took place in Zone 1.

CHMA has reached out to the Department of Health to find out more about this change in provincial testing.

Currently, PCR testing is reserved for those who are symptomatic and also either over 50 or under 2, working in a residential facility or hospital, or are immunocompromised or pregnant.

488 new cases were identified through PCR testing on Thursday, and 953 new positive rapid test results were self-reported through the province’s website. 124 people in hospital have COVID-19.