On Monday’s Tantramar Report:

With hundreds of health care workers in the province isolating due to COVID-19, David Gordon Koch asks officials from unions representing health-care workers how the current rapid spread of the virus is affecting their members, and the operation of the Sackville Memorial Hospital. Check out the web story here.

And we talk with local cafe co-owner Alan Barbour, about his decision to temporarily close The Black Duck Cafe amidst capacity restrictions and customer concerns about the Omicron variant.

Plus more news and information:

Booster eligibility opens up today

Friday’s snowstorm meant the cancellation of a COVID-19 vaccination clinic that was slated to happen at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre. Public Health says it will be calling to rebook appointments for those scheduled for Friday’s clinic.

The next clinic in Sackville is not scheduled until Jan. 24, though that is expected to change in the wake of the cancelled clinic, and increasing eligibility for booster shots starting today.

At a news conference Friday morning, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced that anyone 18 or over will be able to book a third shot starting today, as long as five months have passed since their second dose.

That means that if you are 18 or over and had your second shot by Aug. 10, 2021, you will be able to book an appointment for a booster, either through a pharmacy or through New Brunswick public health website, at gnb.ca/bookavaccine. Corner Drug Store pharmacist Charles Beaver reminds people not to call to book with Corner Drug, but to register on the pharmacy’s website instead. Check out the web story here.

Shepherd says improvements coming for test kit pick up schedule in rural areas

In Sackville, rapid test kits have only been available for pick up on a weekly basis, with a Horizon van setting up distribution every Tuesday in the parking lot of the Tantramar Civic Centre. The weekly schedule for pick up no longer works, now that people must wait for symptoms before requesting a test kit.  Minister Shephard said on Friday that changes would come this week to have kits available more often in other rural areas.

“That’s actually one of the logistics that we are still trying to work out,” Shephard said. “We realize that we need to make them available more than once a week. So hopefully in the next couple of business days, we’re going to have that result.”

Rapid tests have been working to identify cases of COVID-19 in the province. Shepherd said that last week just over 2000 people in the province reported positive rapid test results on the province’s website. Those cases have not been confirmed by PCR testing, and have not been added to the province’s official COVID case counts.

Last week the province announced that its lab testing would be reserved for those with symptoms over 50 or those who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or working in hospitals or residential institutions.

Anyone else is being asked to use a rapid test, if they are concerned they may have contracted COVID-19. But even those people will have limited access to rapid test kits, which are now only being given to those with symptoms, who have registered in advance with Public health.

Sackville town council meets tonight

Sackville town council will have its first meeting of 2022 tonight.  Anyone wanting to attend the meeting in person must register in advance with town clerk Donna Beal.

Up to ten people will be able to attend the meeting in person, and those must be prepared to show proof of vaccination.

The meeting will also be livestreamed, and citizens can also participate with Microsoft Teams. Links are available here.

Today’s agenda includes changes to the street traffic and parks bylaw, and the cancellation of the Winterfest festival, which was slated for February.

COVID-19 numbers update

The number of people in hospital due to COVID-19 was up to 79 on Sunday, with 17 people in intensive care.

Just 201 new positive cases were reported Sunday, reflecting low numbers of testing.  Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell has explained that provincial case counts are now under-reporting actual cases due to restrictions on testing.  On Sunday, the province reported just over 1000 new tests, less than half the recent daily average.

Another person died with COVID-19, bringing the provincial pandemic death toll to 172.

Online learning kicks in tomorrow

School resumes tomorrow, but children won’t be returning to the classroom. The provincial government announced last month students will move to home learning because of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19. Many parents have expressed frustration about the plan, saying children struggle to learn from home. Other concerns include balancing childcare with work, and social isolation for kids.

Christmas tree pick up this week

Christmas trees will be picked up curbside this week, to be composted in ECO 360’s organics program. Trees can be placed out on regular pick up days this week, along with other organics and recycling.

The town of Sackville is also encouraging people to chip, mulch or repurpose their Christmas tree on their own. Boughs can be used to make a wreath or other outdoor winter decoration, to insulate perennials or garden beds, or can be composted in your backyard.