All 12 Horizon Health hospitals are operating on orange level restrictions, now that Zone 3 (Fredericton) is in the orange phase of COVID-19 recovery.

President and CEO of Horizon Health Karen McGrath says over 100 healthcare workers were self-isolating as of late last week.

Out of those 100, McGrath is able to confirm that between “four or five” are COVID-19 positive.

Another 50 staff, she says, were “redeployed from the regular positions to help control the spread of the virus.”

Redeployed staff were sent to areas such as testing sites to help complete more tests after public exposures.

“Our healthcare system is in a very vulnerable state," McGrath says.

Due to the reshuffling and absence of staff, some health services have been reduced or cancelled.

Some surgeries are cancelled, patients who visit community health centres (such as COPD or diabetic patients) may miss follow-up appointments, and childrens’ immunizations are delayed.

More of McGrath's remarks are available here: