On today’s Tantramar Report:

A widespread shortage of housing has left one local resident – the owner of Sackville’s only bicycle repair shop – contemplating a return to his family in Ontario until an apartment becomes available in the area. David Gordon Koch talks with Tobias Paul about his challenges finding rental housing in Sackville.

Plus more local news and information:

COVID-19 update: highest active case count in Zone 1

Five more people have died in New Brunswick with COVID-19, bringing the death toll since Jan. 1 to 84.

The number of people in hospital is back up to 162, with 17 people in intensive care.

228 new cases were reported with PCR based lab testing, and another 603 cases were self-reported based on rapid test results. The largest number of active PCR cases is in Zone 1, with over 1,500 active cases.

Seven active cases at Mount Allison

Mount Allison has seven active cases of COVID-19 in its community according to results of rapid tests self-reported to the school. One person is living in residence, and the other six students, staff or faculty are living off-campus.

Since last week, 21 new cases have been self-reported to the school, for a total of 83 cases since Jan. 3. That number also includes cases from individuals who are not presently on campus or in Sackville.

Vaccination clinics in Sackville Feb. 5 and 7

There are two vaccination clinics coming up at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre on Mallard Drive. This Saturday, February 5, kids from 5-11 years old can get a first or second shot at the centre from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then on Monday, Feb. 7, Vitalité Health Network is running a clinic for all eligible New Brunswickers. The Monday clinic also runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and appointments are available for both at gnb.ca/bookavaccine

Province appoints new superintendent for ASD-E

The Anglophone East School District is getting a new superintendent this spring. Randolph MacLean will take over the job in April, according to an announcement today from the district.

MacLean currently works as Deputy Director of Education for the Horizon School Division based in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. MacLean has roots in the Maritimes, and attended both St. Mary’s and Dalhousie University.

KN95 distribution at Mount A

Mount Allison University has acquired a supply of KN95 respirators and is beginning distribution to its students, staff and faculty this week.

Students will be able to pick up packages of five KN95 respirators distributed at meal halls or through the Mount Allison bookstore. Staff and faculty will receive their supply via their building management.

About two weeks ago, the university changed its mask policy to discourage cloth masks, and require certified medical masks or N95 or KN95 respirators on campus.

CHMA recently spoke to epidemiologist Catherine Clase who has studied the filtration effect of various masks. Clase highly recommends N95 or KN95 respirators if they are available.

“These are masks which, if fit tested on an individual, will provide more than 95% protection from very small particles,” says Clase. But even if not fit-tested, she says, “you can still expect to see above 90% filtration.”

Clase says the next best thing is double masking with a well-fitted cloth mask and a medical mask, which provides 50 to 75% filtration. Certified medical masks on their own range from 40 to 80%, and cloth masks on their own range between 30 and 50% filtration. Cloth masks can also range in quality, with a wide variation in designs and materials used.

Clase acknowledges that respirators are harder to come by than cloth masks, and doesn’t discount their use entirely.

“My bottom line is any mask is better than no mask, and that’s still true,” says Clase. “But I think it’s important now that everybody knows a little more about masks and wears the best masks that they have access to.”

Listen to the Tantramar Report below: