Overview

Horizon Health Network has prepared this status report to provide the public with situational information regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health care system. This report will be updated at different intervals as the situation evolves.

Statement from President and CEO Dr. John Dornan

Horizon and Vitalité are maintaining Red Level restrictions in our facilities and these protocols will remain in place following the removal of public health restrictions in the community on Monday, March 14.

This means that there will continue to be NO SOCIAL VISITORS ALLOWED in our facilities, and anyone entering our hospitals will continue to be subjected to screening at the door and will still be required to wear a mask.

This is being done for the protection of our patients and our health care workers, as we continue to make every effort to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission within our facilities.

It is important to maintain these measures as an additional safeguard for the health care system, as New Brunswick continues to see significant daily case counts and continues to see hundreds of  our health care staff unable to report to work following a positive test.

Our Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) teams will continue to assess and manage COVID-19 risk within our hospitals and will advise when it is safe to move to less restrictive measures.

We know how important it is for our patients to have their loved ones around them and we prioritize meeting this need while protecting the health of patients and clients in our care.

 We are continuing to welcome fully vaccinated Designated Support Persons (DSPs) for eligible inpatients and outpatients.

DSPs are required to show proof of vaccination along with government issued ID to screeners upon entry to all Horizon facilities.There are limited exceptions to the vaccine requirement for urgent or essential reasons including emergency and critical care, end of life and support/care for children under 18 years of age.

Operationally, we are making significant progress with the resumption of elective surgeries and ambulatory/outpatient appointments that were postponed during the height of the Omicron wave.

Medical imaging departments, ambulatory care clinics and other outpatient services across Horizon have identified priority procedures experiencing longer wait times, and we have allocated additional resources aimed at addressing backlogs by offering quicker turnaround times, expanded appointment options and faster results with the goal of improving patient/client care and outcomes.

Our community COVID-19 assessment centres will remain active for the foreseeable future. Access to PCR tests are reserved for symptomatic people 50 years of age and older or two years of age and under, as well other priority groups.

Rapid test kits, meanwhile, are reserved for symptomatic people who are under the age of 50 and not listed among the priority groups eligible for a PCR test.

To request a PCR test or to obtain a rapid test kit, you must register on the Government of New Brunswick website to book an appointment.

Statistics (as of 9 a.m. Thursday, March 10 2022)

Hospital occupancy

COVID Inpatients

COVID-positive Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Isolation