FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following update on COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) was issued today by Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health:

Everyone has a role to play in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. It takes more than governments and action from the health sector to protect the health and safety of New Brunswickers.

Social distancing measures are a way to minimize COVID-19 transmission in the community. This means minimizing close contact with others during the peak of an outbreak. In addition to staying home when ill, New Brunswickers should plan actions they can take to reduce the spread of infection in places where people gather.

Some social distancing measures need extensive preparation, especially those with large crowds.

At this time, in an abundance of caution and to address public anxiety, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends that any non-essential mass gathering (150 or more people) be cancelled or postponed until we are able to better determine the risk to our population. We understand that such a measure will disrupt the normal activities of our residents but believe it the prudent path to ensuring that we delay and minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our population. We are also encouraging amateur sports leagues or social gathering activities like dance or theatre to consider suspending their non-essential activities.

Mass gatherings can have the potential for serious public health consequences if they are not planned and managed carefully. They can increase the spread of infectious diseases and cause additional strain on the health-care system when held during outbreaks.

Infections can also be transmitted during transit to and from an event, and in the homes of event participants upon their return.

Event planners need to consider the COVID-19 outbreak.

Aside from cancelling or postponing an event, other measures to reduce infection risks during smaller mass gatherings include:

• avoiding shaking hands;
• practising proper hygiene;
• avoiding common sleeping areas;
• discouraging attendees from sharing food or drinks;
• increasing social distance between others (ideally to two metres) by:
  • broadcasting events
  • offering virtual participation
  • moving the venue from indoors to outdoors
• eliminating self-serve buffet style eating at social or religious gatherings;
• encouraging people who are ill or those with high-risk medical conditions not to attend gatherings;
• supporting hand hygiene by providing hand sanitizer dispensers in prominent locations;
• ensuring event organizers have arrangements in place to safely isolate and transport people who become ill onsite; and
• communicating clearly to attendees about the risks and directing them to our advice on reducing the spread of illness.

For more information, refer to Public Health Agency of Canada’s COVID-19 guidance on risk-informed decision making for mass gatherings, available online.

NB省关于COVID-19（新型冠状病毒）的最新公告：3/12/2020

疫情当前，保护新布伦瑞克省每个人的健康和安全，不仅仅需要政府和卫生部门采取的行动，更需要每一个新布伦瑞克人的重视和配合。

社会疏离措施（Social distancing measures）是尽可能减少COVID-19在社区传播的一种方法。 当前爆发高峰期应尽量减少与他人的密切接触，生病时呆在家里，并采取行动以减少因人群聚集造成的感染蔓延。

当前出于谨慎并考虑到公众的忧虑，卫生局首席医疗官办公室建议取消或推迟任何不必要的群众集会（150人或更多），直到疫情风险能够更准确地被评估和控制。尽管这样的措施会破坏我们居民的正常活动，但这是尽可能降低和减缓COVID-19对民众影响的审慎选择。我们还鼓励业余体育联盟或社交聚会活动（例如舞蹈或戏剧）考虑暂停其不必要的活动。

如果没有精心计划和管理，群众聚会有可能对公众健康造成严重后果。 当疫情爆发时，它们会增加传染病的传播，并给卫生保健系统造成额外的压力。

感染也可能发生在往返活动途中，以及活动参与者返回时在其家中传播。

活动策划者需要考虑COVID-19疫情，除了取消或推迟活动外，在较小规模的群众聚会上减少感染风险的其他措施包括：

• 避免握手；
• 加强卫生清洁；
• 避免共用睡眠区；
• 避免与会者共享食物或饮料；
• 通过以下方式增加社会疏离(理想情况下达到两米）：
  • 直播活动
  • 提供在线参与
  • 将场地从室内移到室外
• 禁止社交或宗教聚会上的自助式自助餐；
• 鼓励生病或患有高危疾病的人不要参加聚会；
• 在醒目的位置提供免洗消毒洗洗手液；
• 活动组织者应有适当的安排来安全隔离和运送现场生病的人；
• 与参与者明确提示有关风险信息，并指导他们遵循以上建议以减少疾病传播。

如需更多信息，请参阅加拿大公共卫生局COVID-19关于群众集会决策的风险告知指南，该指南可在线获得。