The New Brunswick Department of Public Health reported 72 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

There were 32 new cases in the Moncton area, 13 in the St. John’s area, 21 in the Fredericton Health District, and 6 in the Miramichi area.

“49% of the new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick are the result of transmission within private households,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical and health officer, in a press conference.

"The average age of new cases in the past week was 33 years, much younger than what we saw at the beginning of the pandemic."

Twenty-eight people were hospitalized due to the virus, and 14 of them needed intensive care.

The number of active cases in the province is 566 after 71 recovery. There are 182 active cases in the Moncton area, 131 in the St. John’s area, 124 in the Fredericton area, and 111 in the Miramichi area.

87.1% of eligible New Brunswick people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 93.3% have received the first dose of vaccine.

Starting at 6 pm on Friday, November 19, the circuit breaker measures in the Moncton and Miramichi Sanitary Districts will end.

"The circuit breaker measures have worked well in most areas, but after six weeks, they did not achieve the expected results in Moncton Region 1, and we need to change our approach. We must return to normal and adapt to the reality of COVID-19 as we think Find a balance," Governor Blaine Higgs said.

The province announced new measures for families, which will start at 6pm on Friday, November 19

If a person tests positive for COVID-19, everyone in the family must self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

"In addition, members who are fully vaccinated and tested negative by PCR on the fifth day will be able to leave the quarantine because we recognize that even if you are vaccinated, you can still become a carrier," Higgs said.

Higgs added that a PCR test must still be performed after 10 days to confirm a negative result.

The new measures affect the whole province.

On Friday, November 19th, public service personnel must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Employees who have not received two vaccinations or who have not received the first dose and have confirmed an appointment for the second dose will take unpaid leave at the end of the working day on Friday.

Most employees in departments, healthcare, education, and Crown Corporation have been fully vaccinated or have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and have determined to receive the second dose. Currently, 1,995 employees or 3.3% of employees have not been vaccinated.