Health care small business graph and Professional medical examination and businessman analyzing data and advancement chart on blured track record
As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now additional vital than at any time for people to prepare for their wellness coverage open up enrollment period of time and pick out a health system which is ideal for them and their people.
Starting up just a pair of weeks in the past, several employers have established apart a two- to a few-7 days period of time when workers can decide on health benefits for the following year.
This usually means that practically 13 million folks in New York might pick out or alter their overall health insurance plan strategies for 2022. Deciding upon overall health advantages can experience overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
We experienced a prospect to converse with Michael McGuire, chief healthcare officer for UnitedHealthcare of New York about this year’s changes and treatment. Here’s what he experienced to share:
Q. Who wants to be conscious of open up enrollment?
A. Enrollment durations are not the identical for all people, so there are important dates to keep in intellect relying on their situation. Be positive to look at with your employer to know your possibilities. For the more than 2.4 million New Yorkers qualified for Medicare, Medicare Annual Enrollment operates from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 every single yr. In the meantime, New York’s ACA exchange for 2022 options is open up by Dec. 31.
Quite a few Medicare Edge designs also supply fitness center memberships and wellness systems for users at no added price.
Everything especially various or new this year that we want to keep in thoughts? However we’ve produced great progress as a entire in combating COVID-19, its impacts will continue to be felt in some sort or a different. With a renewed emphasis on health, now is the time to just take inventory, set health and fitness objectives and strategy for the calendar year forward. If you’re expecting a important health celebration in the up coming year, such as surgery or the start of a little one, be absolutely sure to examine the discrepancies in between plan layouts to uncover what will perform greatest for you. Numerous overall health plans now present incentives that reward you for using healthier steps, such as finishing a wellbeing study, working out or preventing nicotine.
Q. How do we know we are creating the ideal decisions?
A. In spite of undertaking this each individual yr, like taxes, several of us guess about coverage we need for the future yr. This is accurate. Whether you’re deciding upon a system for the first time or evaluating how very well your present-day a person meets your desires, it’s essential to acquire the time to fully grasp and look at the added benefits, expert services and fees of each prepare. A fantastic initial action is to brush up on overall health insurance plan lingo, such as top quality, deductible, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums.
If you’re qualified for Medicare, as you weigh your choices, make positive you’re acquainted with the big difference concerning Initial Medicare and Medicare Advantage. If you want a review, go to MedicareMadeClear.com—an on-line useful resource with solutions to questions about eligibility, plan decisions, price tag fundamentals, prescription protection and far more.
For most people today, if they don’t make an enrollment choice, they could be locked into their present plan for yet another calendar year. If anything has improved this 12 months, both with their present approach, wellness position or finances, that selection to do almost nothing could lead to uncomfortable surprises or missed value-discounts in 2022.
Q. How has COVID affected insurance coverage choice?
A. Mental wellbeing and digital care possibilities have observed a significant strengthen in utilization as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are busy juggling kids’ schedules and operate obligations, traveling or you only want to link with a medical doctor from the usefulness of your home, consider deciding upon a approach that incorporates 24/7 virtual care. These visits are developed to be an much easier, far more inexpensive way to discuss to medical professionals about frequent overall health concerns, applying a smartphone, pill or laptop or computer.
Handling your psychological well being is an critical action in caring for your in general nicely-remaining. In addition to in-person care, you may possibly now be able to access a big digital wellness network of therapists and psychiatrists with quite a few plans—including UnitedHealthcare Medicare Benefit for a $ copay. Some health and fitness insurers, this sort of as UnitedHealthcare, also supply advocacy providers to assist you obtain the proper therapist and variety of care.
Michael McGuire
Michael McGuire is main executive officer of UnitedHealthcare in New York. McGuire and his group coordinate accessibility to client-oriented overall health gain plans and services for nearly 3 million people today who get their health and fitness prepare separately or by tiny, massive and public sector employers. In addition, McGuire is the board chair of the New York Overall health System Affiliation and the Business enterprise Council of New York.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s coronavirus infections and deaths achieved all-time highs for a 2nd straight day Friday, in a escalating challenge for the country with a single of Europe’s least expensive shares of vaccinated people.
Ukrainian wellness authorities noted 23,785 new confirmed infections and 614 fatalities in the past 24 hrs.
Authorities in the cash, Kyiv, shut universities for two weeks commencing Friday, and equivalent actions were being purchased in other areas with substantial contagion ranges.
Authorities have blamed surging infections on a sluggish speed of vaccination in the nation of 41 million. Ukrainians can freely opt for in between Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines, but only about 15{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the population is totally vaccinated, Europe’s least expensive amount right after Armenia.
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Overall, the region has registered around 2.7 million bacterial infections and about 63,000 fatalities.
The steep increase in contagion has prompted the governing administration to tighten constraints. Starting off Thursday, evidence of vaccination or a detrimental exam is needed to board planes, trains and lengthy-length buses.
In Rivne, 300 kilometers (190 miles) west of Kyiv, the city healthcare facility is swamped with COVID-19 sufferers and medical doctors say the situation is even worse than for the duration of the wave of infections early in the pandemic that severely strained the well being program.
“The … class of the disorder is unquestionably additional extreme and far more intense than previous 12 months. The people have become more youthful,” mentioned Valentn Koroliuk, head of the hospital’s intense-care device. “Unfortunately, these individuals who are in our office are not vaccinated.”
Lilia Serdiuk, 61, is preventing COVID-19 and regretting that she did heed calls to get vaccinated.
“I did not consider it, I didn’t even want to watch the information,” she explained to The Associated Press as she lay on her back in a slim mattress. “This ailment exists and it is pretty awful. I want all people today would listen to the news and the recommendations of health professionals.”
The healthcare facility is in close proximity to potential and doctors get worried the wave of individuals will grow.
“What if there are even a lot more people? What if we really do not have enough oxygen? This is regular strain,” stated doctor Tetiana Pasichnyk.
A black market place for counterfeit vaccination certificates has blossomed amid the constraints, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting before this week on strategies of combating the illegal observe.
Inside Minister Denys Monastyrsky reported police have opened 800 legal circumstances about the use of such certificates, introducing that the ministry deployed 100 cellular units to track down their holders, who would confront severe punishment.
He explained that a former lawmaker, Nadiya Savchenko, created a pretend proof of vaccination as she returned to Ukraine Friday.
Law enforcement reported they suspect employees at 15 hospitals throughout the country of involvement in issuing bogus vaccination certificates.
To encourage vaccination, authorities have started off providing shots in shopping malls. As bacterial infections soared, skeptical attitudes started to transform and a report number of far more than 270,000 men and women acquired vaccines about the past 24 hours.
Evgeny Maloletka in Rivne, Ukraine, contributed.
Observe AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Copyright 2021 The Related Press. All legal rights reserved. This materials may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Five more New Brunswickers have lost their lives to COVID-19, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced Friday.
Four people in the Moncton region, Zone 1 – including two people 60-69, a person 70-79 and a person 80-89 – and a person 70-79 in the Campbellton region, Zone 5, have died.
This pushes the province’s death toll to 106. Shephard said she is “saddened” by the news, calling each loss of life “incredibly difficult.”
But she noted the “positive trend” of the 40 new cases of COVID-19 being outnumbered by the 67 recoveries — one she said she hopes will continue.
Shephard also announced that about 7,000 of the government’s 59,500 employees have still not shown proof they’ve received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Although vaccination rates among public sector employees have increased by six per cent since mandatory vaccination was announced on Oct. 5 Shephard said she is troubled.
“We simply cannot afford to have unvaccinated people working in New Brunswick’s public service. The potential risk to co-workers, patients, students and members of the public is too high,” she said.
As of Saturday, those who have not received at least one dose won’t have enough time to meet the Nov. 19 deadline to be fully vaccinated because of the required 28 days between doses.
“This means they will spend at least some time home from work without pay,” Shephard said.
This will definitely have an impact on the public service, she said, noting the unvaccinated individuals are in all sectors, including payroll entry, front-line hospital workers and education staff.
“But we have to have a steady line of understanding that this is very necessary for the protection of everyone.” said Shephard.
A total of 83.3 per cent of New Brunswickers age 12 and older are now fully vaccinated, up from 83.1 on Thursday, and 92 per cent have received their first dose, up from 91.9.
Shephard urged all public service employees who have not yet received a dose to book an appointment immediately to reduce the length of time they’ll be on unpaid leave.
“I’m optimistic that after weighing the consequences, more people will choose to do the right thing.”
Red alert extended for at least 1 week
She made the comments during a news conference held to provide an update on the state of the health-care system.
Fifty people are hospitalized because of the virus, down from 55 on Thursday, including 15 in intensive care, a decrease of one.
Eleven people are on ventilators, including seven in Horizon Health Network hospitals and four in Vitalité Health Network hospitals.
The province has an “ample” supply of ventilators, said Shephard.
Dr. John Dornan, interim president and CEO of Horizon and Dr. France Desrosiers, president and CEO of Vitalité, announced the red alert level protocols for COVID-19 will be extended for at least another week.
The red alert level protocols allow the regional health authorities to redeploy staff and reduce non-essential services to maintain emergency services and ICUs, caring for COVID-19 patients and those who are critically ill.
Fourth wave struck with unexpected ‘intensity’
Desrosiers said the fourth wave of the pandemic has struck “with an intensity that we have never forecasted.”
An outbreak at the Campbellton Regional Hospital has resulted in 17 positive cases among patients, four of whom died, and 37 infections among staff.
Desrosiers said it clearly shows how one infection in a hospital can paralyze a facility. Speaking in French, she added that no new cases have been detected since Oct. 20.
The outbreak was previously reported as being at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton, the province’s only dedicated mental health hospital. On Friday, Desrosiers told CBC the same medical team provides services at both hospitals.
Across the network, 59 employees are off work, including 19 who tested have positive.
About 2,000 digital imaging appointments and 515 elective surgeries have had to be postponed since Vitalité moved to the red alert phase Oct. 12, said Desrosiers.
Last Wednesday alone, there were 55 New Brunswickers who “unfortunately will have to wait a little longer to get their surgery, surgery that they need in order to improve their health and their quality of life,” she said.
“It is difficult for them and we are very aware of that.”
On average, all Vitalité hospitals are operating above 100 per cent capacity.
Vitalité has about 900 unvaccinated staff.
The decision to move back to the orange or yellow level will be based on being able to manage the risk of community transmission and the capacity of human resources, Desrosiers said.
‘Proverbial Trojan horse’
Dornan described the delta variant as a “proverbial Trojan horse.”
“It enters our hospital in disguise, on the back of your hand, on your body when you are completely asymptomatic, and then you become positive and you spread it to a friend, or an inpatient, and they spread it to somebody else, and then they spread it to staff.”
The hospitals need to break its access, he said, referring to visitor restrictions and limited support worker access.
The number of cases connected to the outbreaks in the Moncton Hospital’s cancer and general surgery units remains at 14 patients and 11 staff, Dornan said. The outbreaks have resulted in reduced access to chemotherapy treatments and surgeries for some patients, he said.
Asked for an update on a third outbreak on the hospital’s geriatric unit — Units 5100 and 5200 — Dornan incorrectly told CBC an outbreak had not been declared.
An outbreak was declared on Sept. 27. No new cases have been confirmed since Oct. 1, said Horizon spokesperson Kris McDavid. The outbreak will be declared over after two viral cycles, each of 14 days, with no new cases, he said.
The 40 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Friday are spread across five of the province’s seven health zones and put the total active case count at 731. (CBC)
On Thursday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell revealed most of the then-23 fully vaccinated people hospitalized with COVID-19 contracted the virus after they were hospitalized for other reasons at the Moncton Hospital and Campbellton Regional Hospital.
Asked what is being done to improve protocols to ensure such infections don’t continue, Dornan acknowledged when people go to the hospital, they “have some assurances that they’re safe, that they’re not going to get sicker.”
“The infections in our hospitals were borne by visitors, by that Trojan horse,” he said, so limiting people from entering the hospital is key. Desrosiers, however, said it’s difficult to trace the index case in a hospital outbreak.
They both said they’ve increased screening. Horizon also polls people twice a day about whether they’re experiencing COVID-related symptoms, said Dornan.
In addition, it practises “very good droplet precaution, handwashing, masking religiously in all our units, and those manoeuvres already have reduced any further spread,” he said.
Dornan said it was a small number of COVID patients who acquired the virus in hospital. The Moncton Hospital outbreak started with a patient who didn’t know they had COVID. The patient screened negatively and only developed symptoms later, he said.
Across Horizon, a total of 113 “non-urgent” surgeries have been delayed or cancelled so far, he said, refusing to refer to them as “elective” surgeries, noting there is “no such thing.”
“You don’t wake up and say, ‘I think I elect to have surgery today.’ Elective surgery just means that it does not need to be done within the next 24 or 48 hours.
“And to be clear, while the term ‘elective’ is used, every single surgery is assessed, covered by our health-care system and is necessary.”
Seventy-one of them have been in the Fredericton and Upper River Valley area, 42 in the Moncton area, and some in the Saint John area as well, even though it’s not a circuit breaker region, because the OR staff are needed in other units, he said.
There’s no playbook for how we respond to COVID.– John Dornan, Horizon interim president and CEO
In some cases, surgeries are postponed at the patients’ wishes because they’re nervous to go to the hospital during the red phase, Dornan said. Horizon has been at the red phase since Oct. 13.
“We are always very concerned that … post red phases, people’s diseases progressed to the point that when they come back, it’s a more serious problem.”
Most of Horizon’s hospitals are operating at over 90 per cent capacity. The ideal occupancy rate is about 85 per cent, he said.
About 1,200 Horizon employees remain unvaccinated.
“Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions with respect to all aspects of our hospital care. And this is a very sensitive process,” Dornan said.
“We also have to weigh the risks and benefits of doing nothing. And generally speaking, that’s just untenable. There’s no playbook for how we respond to COVID.”
Booster dose appointments for health-care workers now available
Health-care personnel, including those working in long-term care facilities, can now book an appointment to receive an mRNA COVID-19 booster dose if six months have passed since their second dose of a vaccine, Public Health announced Friday.
Details on booster doses for other groups will be available in the “coming weeks,” according to a news release.
Health-care workers are reminded to bring their immunization record with them to their appointment.
Update on school sports and extracurricular activities
School teams and extracurricular groups are now permitted to travel within New Brunswick, including in and out of circuit breaker communities, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced Friday.
Students under the age of 12 in circuit breaker communities will also be able to resume school sports and extracurricular activities, following the Healthy and Safe School guidelines, she said. All these activities continue to be subject to guidance provided in the mandatory order.
Spectators are allowed to attend school-related events that are held outside of school facilities, provided they show proof they are fully vaccinated and follow masking and physical distancing requirements, Shephard said.
Starting Oct. 29, spectators will also be permitted to attend sports and extracurricular activities inside school buildings, provided they follow masking, physical distancing and “any other operational requirements set out by schools or districts,” she said.
“All events will require the co-operation and support of families and community volunteers,” Shephard noted. “If schools are not able to find enough community volunteers to manage events, individual schools and school districts may choose not to allow spectators.”
Breakdown of cases
The 40 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Friday put the province’s total active case count at 731.
Of the new cases, 29 – or 73 per cent – are unvaccinated, two – or five per cent – are partially vaccinated, and nine – or 22 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
Of the 50 people hospitalized due to the virus, 25 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated and 22 are fully vaccinated.
Of the 15 people in intensive care, 14 are unvaccinated and one is partially vaccinated.
Here is a breakdown of the new cases:
Moncton region, Zone 1, 25 cases:
10 people 19 or under
Two people 20-29
Four people 30-39
Four people 50-59
Three people 60-69
A person 70-79
A person 80-89
Twenty-four cases are under investigation and the other is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
Saint John region, Zone 2, three cases:
A person 20-29
A person 40-49
A person 60-69
All three cases are under investigation.
The Moncton Hospital has COVID-19 outbreaks in the cancer, geriatric and general surgery units. It’s a hospital ‘under duress,’ said Horizon’s interim president and CEO Dr. John Dornan. (CBC)
Fredericton region, Zone 3, five cases:
Three people 19 or under
A person 20-29
A person 30-39
All five cases are under investigation.
Edmundston region, Zone 4, five cases:
A person 19 or under
A person 30-39
A person 50-59
Two people 60-69
All five cases are under investigation.
Campbellton region, Zone 5, two cases:
One case is under investigation and the other is a contact of a previously confirmed case.
New Brunswick has had 6,072 confirmed cases of COVID since the start of the pandemic, with 5,234 recoveries so far.
A total of 514,676 lab tests have been conducted to date, including 1,793 on Thursday.
On Thursday, 9,471 rapid-test kits were distributed across the province, Public Health said.
Sackville nursing home outbreak to be declared over
A COVID-19 outbreak at Drew Nursing Home in Sackville is expected to be declared over Friday at midnight, according to an update the home sent to families Thursday night.
The latest round of tests Tuesday found no new positive cases, the update states.
The home is currently updating its visitation policy.
“After this stressful experience with COVID 19, we will be taking a cautious approach to opening our doors.”
Families will be contacted once the visitation rules are finalized, the update advises, thanking them for their patience and understanding throughout the “incredibly difficult situation.”
The outbreak began Sept. 14, when it was announced the home was closed to visitors after a staff member tested positive.
A total of 40 people have tested positive throughout the outbreak — 30 residents and 10 staff.
Eight residents have died.
A Parade of Heroes was scheduled to be held in the Drew parking lot Friday at 10 a.m. to thank the staff for their hard work during the outbreak.
Saint John independent living apartment gets ‘all clear’
Loch Lomond Villa in Saint John says visiting can resume in its three independent living apartment buildings after an outbreak of COVID-19 was declared in at least one of them a couple of weeks ago.
“We have been given the ‘all clear’ by Public Health,” the Villa announced on Facebook Thursday.
“Thank you for your patience while we worked to keep our tenants safe and healthy.”
Building 3 (The Crossing) on 165 Loch Lomond Rd. was closed to visitors Oct. 8 due to a confirmed outbreak.
Building 2 (The Cornerstone) on 219 Ellerdale St. and Building 1 (The Milestone) on 221 Ellerdale St. were closed to all visitors the same day as a precaution, the Villa had said.
Visitors are reminded that all COVID protocols remain in place, including wearing a mask, physical distancing and frequent handwashing.
New cases at 3 schools, 1 daycare
Five new positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified at three schools, according to the COVID-19 dashboard.
The schools where a case or cases have been confirmed include: École Anna-Malenfant and Birchmount School in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and École Grande-Rivière, in the Edmundston region, Zone 4.
Forty-five schools are currently impacted
A total of 375 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at 105 schools since the beginning of the school year.
A new case has also been confirmed at Garderie Power Play in Dieppe in the Moncton region, Zone 1.
People who have been in close contact with a confirmed case will be notified directly by Public Health or the facility for contact tracing, Public Health said in a news release.
Since Sept. 7, 57 early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Atlantic COVID roundup
Nova Scotia reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the active caseload to 160. Fifteen people are hospitalized because of the virus, including four who are in intensive care.
Newfoundland and Labrador reported 30 new cases over Thursday and Friday. There are now 62 active cases, and four people are in hospital.
Prince Edward Island reported three new cases on Tuesday. The province has seven active cases.
New public exposure notices
The following are the new public exposures released by Public Health on Friday.
Moncton region, Zone 1
Oct. 21 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Ambulatory Care – Clinic C, Moncton Hospital (135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 20 from 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Ambulatory Care – Clinic C, Moncton Hospital (135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Ambulatory Care – Clinic C, Moncton Hospital (135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Ambulatory Care – Clinic C, Moncton Hospital (135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 15 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Rocco’s Cucina (2814 Main St., Hillsborough)
Edmundston region, Zone 4
Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. – Pizza Delight (180 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 14 and 15 from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. – Dejeuner AM Breakfast (1791 Main St., Madawaska Maliseet First Nation)
Previous exposure notices
The following are exposure notices from the past few weeks. For the full list beyond this time period, please visit the Government of New Brunswick’s website, which was redesigned and now clearly separates new exposure notices from previously reported exposure notices.
Public Health has identified a case of COVID-19 in a traveller who may have been infectious while on the following flight:
Moncton region, Zone 1
Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to noon – Caisse Populaire Sud-Est (1363 Route 133, Grand-Barachois)
Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon – Club Extenso Rhythmic Gymnastics (299 Champlain St., Dieppe)
Oct. 18 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Dieppe Aquatic and Sports Centre (111 Aquatique St., Dieppe)
Oct. 16 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Slapshots Family Sports Restaurant & Grill (55 Russ Howard Dr., Moncton)
Oct. 16 and 17 from 11 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Moncton Hospital Emergency Room waiting room (135 Macbeath Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 15 from noon to 12:30 p.m. – Boutique Recycl’Art and Antiques (149 John St., Moncton)
Oct. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Bistro Le Chat Bleu (342 Route 940, Baie-Verte)
Between Oct. 10 and 14 – Headquarters Campground, Fundy National Park (11 Headquarters Campground Rd., Fundy National Park)
Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Tim Hortons (1840 Main St., Moncton)
Oct. 13 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Wise Guyz Pub (176 Robinson St., Moncton)
Oct. 13 between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (89 Trinity Dr., Moncton)
Oct. 13 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. – Georges Dumont Hospital, Diagnostic Imaging Department (330 Université Ave., Moncton)
Oct. 13 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Spirit Halloween (169 Trinity Dr., Moncton)
Oct. 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Gusto Italian Grill & Bar (130 Westmorland St., Moncton)
Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Tim Hortons (10 Plaza Blvd., Moncton)
Oct. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Tim Hortons (10 Plaza Blvd., Moncton)
Oct. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Pregnancy & Wellness Centre of Moncton (27 John St., Moncton)
Oct. 7 between 9 a.m. and noon – Service New Brunswick, waiting room (766 Main St., Moncton)
Oct. 7 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Pseudio (477 Paul St., Dieppe)
Between Oct. 6 and 7 between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. – Wingate by Wyndham (69 Marché Rd., Dieppe)
Oct. 6 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. – The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse (751 Main St., Moncton)
Oct. 6 between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Pseudio (477 Paul St., Dieppe)
Oct. 5 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.- Five Bridges Bar & Grill (121 Pine Glen Rd., Riverview)
Oct. 4 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Dr. Léon Richard Oncology Centre (37 Providence St. Moncton)
Oct. 4-6 between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Club Boishebert de Shediac (322 Main St., Shediac)
Oct. 3 between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. – Cornerstone Chapel Moncton (11 York St., Berry Mills)
Oct. 3 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Hillsborough United Church (2891 Main St., Hillsborough)
Between Oct. 2 and 3 between noon and 10 a.m. – Beauséjour Camping (747 Lino Rd., Shediac)
Saint John region, Zone 2
Oct. 17 from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – True Life Church (30 Vincent Rd., Quispamsis)
Oct. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Boyd Bros. Home Hardware (9 Route 172, Saint George)
Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (175 Old Hampton Rd., Quispamsis)
Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Sobeys (140 Hampton Rd., Rothesay)
Oct. 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – GoodLife Fitness (212 McAllister Dr., Saint John)
Oct. 15 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. –Brenan’s Paradise Row
Funeral Home (111 Paradise Row, Saint John)
Oct. 12 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – GoodLife Fitness (175 Hampton Rd., Quispamsis)
Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – St. Louis Bar & Grill (175 Hampton Rd., Quispamsis)
Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. –Cask & Kettle Irish Gastropub (112 Prince William St., Saint John)
Oct. 10 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Thandi (33 Canterbury St., Saint John)
Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Kingston Farmer’s Market (4 Market Ln., Kingston)
Oct. 9 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – The Barrel’s Head Gastropub (141 Hampton Rd., Rothesay)
Oct. 9 between 3:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. – Drew & Jen’s No Frills (621 Fairville Blvd., Saint John)
Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Pizza Delight (2 King St., St. Stephen)
Oct. 8 between 5:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. – East Side Mario’s (75 Consumers Dr., Saint John)
Oct. 8 between noon and 2:30 p.m. – Canadian Tire (250 King St., St. Stephen)
Oct. 8 between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (195 King St., St. Stephen)
Oct. 8 between 6:45 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. – Station 33 Café & Yoga restaurant section (33 Railway Cres., Hampton)
Oct. 1 and 8between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. – Hampton Chop Shop (557 Main St., Hampton)
Oct. 2 to Oct. 7 between 6:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. – Station 33 Café & Yoga restaurant section (33 Railway Cres., Hampton)
Oct. 5, 6, and 7between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – McAllister Place (519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John)
Between Oct. 4 and 7 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. – Hampton Chop Shop (557 Main St., Hampton)
Oct. 7, between 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. – Hampton Community Centre rink (808 Main St., Hampton)
Oct. 7 between noon and 2 p.m. – Vogue Optical (20 Plaza Ave., Saint John)
Oct. 6 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Vogue Optical (20 Plaza Ave., Saint John)
Oct. 6, between noon and 3 p.m. – Dr. Luan Le’s Office (35 University Ave., Saint John)
Oct. 6, between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Char and Chowder Restaurant (182 Water St., Saint Andrews)
Oct. 6 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Herring Cove Pharmacy (924 Route 774, Welshpool)
Oct. 5 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 8th Hussars Sports Centre (8 Leonard Dr., Sussex)
Oct. 5, between 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – Up to Par Restaurant (109 Upper Midland Rd., Norton)
Oct. 5 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Canterbury Dental Clinic (18 Canterbury St., Saint John)
Oct. 5 between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Campobello Island Health Centre (640 Route 774, Welshpool)
Oct. 4 and 5 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. – Needs Convenience Store (89 Marr Rd., Rothesay)
Oct. 4, between 5:45 p.m. and 16:15 p.m. – Mac’s Island Market (924 Route 774, Welshpool)
Oct. 3 between 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. – Vito’s Restaurant (111 Hampton Rd., Rothesay)
Oct. 3 between 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. – Char and Chowder Restaurant (182 Water St., Saint Andrews)
Oct. 3 – Kings Church (332 Hampton Rd., Quispamsis)
Fredericton region, Zone 3
Oct. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – 540 Kitchen & Bar (540 Queen St., Fredericton)
Oct. 16 from 2:50 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. – Regent Mall (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 15 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Lincoln Big Stop Restaurant (415 Nevers Rd., Waasis)
Oct. 14 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Canadian Tire (388 Connell St., Woodstock)
Between Oct. 13 and 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 a.m. – Fredericton Inn (1315 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 13 from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Cazza Petite (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Regent Mall (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – HomeSense (18 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
Oct. 13 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Canadian Tire (388 Connell St., Woodstock)
Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon – Home Hardware (115 Drummond St., Perth)
Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon – BMR Besthome Hardware & Building Supplies (319 Centreville Rd., Florenceville-Bristol)
Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon – Davesports (398 Connell St., Woodstock)
Oct. 12 between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Canadian Tire (388 Connell St., Woodstock)
Oct. 10 between noon and 5 p.m. – Pseudio (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 10 between 9 a.m. and noon – HopeCity (429 Clements Dr., Fredericton)
Oct. 9 between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. – Pseudio (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Pseudio (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Starbucks (1040 Prospect St., Fredericton)
Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Taco Boys (10 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Vape City (10 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
Sept. 14 to Oct. 7 – Tobique Valley Senior’s Complex (4 Manor Dr., Plaster Rock)
Oct. 7 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. – East Side Mario’s (14 Trinity Ave., Fredericton)
Oct. 7 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Dollarama (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 7 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Walmart (1399 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 7 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Hanwell Village Mart (1761 Hanwell Rd., Hanwell)
Oct. 6 between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – PJ’s Wings and Things (38 Main St., Fredericton)
Oct. 6 between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – York County Cider (38 Main St., Fredericton)
Oct. 6 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Capital Community Church (71 Downing St., Fredericton)
Oct. 6 between noon and 2 p.m. – Ken’s Barber Shop (240 Main St., Plaster Rock)Oct. 4 between 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Scotiabank (728 Perth Main St., Perth-Andover)
Oct. 5 between noon and 8 p.m. – Pseudio (1381 Regent St., Fredericton)
Oct. 5 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Abony Family Tennis Centre (594 Knowledge Park Dr., Fredericton)
Oct. 4 between 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Scotiabank (728 Perth Main St., Perth-Andover)
Oct. 4 between 9:40 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. – Subway (18 F. Tribe Rd. Unit 3, Perth-Andover)
Oct. 3 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Pond’s Resort on the Miramichi restaurant (91 Porter Cove Rd., Porter Cove)
Oct. 3 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Speedway 104 Mower races (7399 Route 104, Windsor)
Oct. 3 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Speedway 104 Mower races (7399 Route 104, Windsor)
Oct. 3 between 10:30 a.m. and noon – Sure Life Assembly (335 Otis Drive, Nackawic)
Oct. 3 between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – G8Way Ultramar (22 Route 628, Penniac)
Oct. 3 between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Kingswood Golf Club (1700 Kingswood Way, Hanwell)
Oct. 2-3 between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. – Quality Inn and Suites Amsterdam (559 Bishop Dr., Fredericton)
Edmundston region, Zone 4
Oct. 19 from 11 a.m to 12:40 p.m. – Edmundston Regional Hospital, emergency room waiting room (275 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 16 from 8:45 a.m to 10 a.m. – Edmundston Regional Hospital Emergency Room waiting room (275 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – IGA extra Supermarché Donat Thériault (580 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 15 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Grand Falls Big Stop (121 Route 255, Grand Falls)
Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to noon – IGA extra Supermarché Donat Thériault (580 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Familiprix (131 de l’Église Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Familiprix (131 de l’Église Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 13, 14, and 15 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Roger C. Ouellette (9 Godreau St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 14 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Saint André Recreation Centre (455 Route 255, Saint André)
Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Atlantic Superstore (577 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Dollarama (15 Mowin St., Madawaska Maliseet First Nation)
Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Dollarama (787 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 14 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Foodland (535 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Loune’s Lounge (475 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 13 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Dollarama (787 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – IGA extra Supermarché Donat Thériault (580 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Canadian Tire (590 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 13 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. – Grand Falls General Hospital, Outpatient Waiting Room (625 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 13 from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. – Dejeuner AM Breakfast (1791 Main St., Madawaska Maliseet First Nation)
Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – BMO (291 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon – Toner Home Hardware (445 Broadway Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. – Dejeuner AM Breakfast (1791 Main St., Madawaska Maliseet First Nation)
Oct. 12 from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (160 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 12 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Clinic Physio Logic (182 High St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Edmundston Regional Hospital emergency department (275 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 12 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – Casse Croute Caro (180 Hebert Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 12 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Foodland (535 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Dollarama (180 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 11 from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 11 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – IGA extra Supermarché Donat Thériault (580 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 10 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 10 from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs Church (30 37e Ave., Edmundston)
Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Church of St. Anne (99 Main St., Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska)
Oct. 9 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Bonichoix (4 Saint Camille Rd., Kedgwick)
Oct. 9 between 11 p.m. and midnight – Bar Chez Wilma (500 Mgr Numa Pichette Blvd., Edmundston)
Oct. 9 between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. – Café Retro Bar (69 Canada Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 9 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Casino Grey Rock (100 Chief Joanna Blvd., Saint Basile)
Oct. 9 between noon and 2 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (344 Canada Rd., Saint Quentin)
Oct. 9 between noon and 2 p.m. – Saint Quentin Co-Op (145 Canada Rd., Saint Quentin)
Oct. 9 from 6 a.m. to 7: 45 a.m. – Ultramar (555 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 8 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Ultramar (555 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 8 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (240 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 8 between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (344 Canada Rd., Saint Quentin)
Oct. 8 between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Familiprix – Kevin Smyth (138 Main St., Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska)
Oct. 7 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Ultramar (555 Madawaska St., Grand Falls)
Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 – Rodeway Inn (10039 Route 144, Grand Falls)
Oct. 7 between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 7 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Supermarché Bonichoix (746 Main St., Saint Leonard)
Oct. 7 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Familiprix – Kevin Smyth (138 Main St., Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska)
Oct. 7 from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 7 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Sports Experts (180 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Provincial Court, Carrefour Assomption (121 de l’Église Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 7 between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. – Provincial Court – Carrefour Assomption (121 de l’Église Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 6-7 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Subway (360 Canada St., Saint Quentin)
Oct. 5 and 7 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. – Cyr Roy Machine Shop and Dépanneur (111 Martin Rd., Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska)
Oct. 6 between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Walmart (805 Victoria St., Edmundston)
Oct. 6 between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Dollarama (15 Mowin St., Madawaska Maliseet First Nation)
Oct. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Foodland (535 Everard H. Daigle Blvd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 6 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Catholic Diocesan Centre (60 René-Bouchard Rd., Edmundston)
Oct. 5 between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. – Greco Pizza (10 Mahsus Crt., Edmundston)
Oct. 4 between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Dollarama (180 Madawaska Rd., Grand Falls)
Oct. 4 between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Road, Grand Falls)
Oct. 4 between 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Road, Grand Falls)
Oct. 4 between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (240 Madawaska Road, Grand Falls)
Oct. 4 between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Walmart (494 Madawaska Road, Grand Falls)
Oct. 4 between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (180 Madawaska Road, Unit #700, Grand Falls)
Oct. 3 between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Subway (360 Canada St., Saint Quentin)
Oct. 3 between 9:15 a.m. and 10 p.m. – St. George Church (226 St. Georges Rd., Grand Falls)
Campbellton region, Zone 5
Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Dooly’s (81 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon – Le Grenier (312 Val d’Amour Rd., Atholville)
Oct. 16 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – Dooly’s (81 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
Oct. 15 and 14from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Le Grenier (312 Val d’Amour Rd., Atholville)
Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Naturiste (312 Val d’Amour Rd., Atholville)
Oct. 14 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Dooly’s (81 Roseberry St., Campbellton)
Oct. 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Kent Building Supplies (15 Savoie Ave., Atholville)
Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Canadian Tire (384 Val d’Amour Rd., Atholville)
Oct. 12 and 13 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. – J.A. Epicerie 2000 Inc. (339 Main St., Eel River Crossing)
Oct. 12 and 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Boutique Daze (312 Val-D’Amour Rd., Atholville)
Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Kent Building Supplies (15 Savoie Ave., Atholville)
Oct. 7 between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Campbellton Regional Hospital, emergency department (189 Lily Lake Rd., Campbellton)
Oct. 6 between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – Brasserie 1026 Bar & Grill (157 Water St., Campbellton)
Between Oct. 5 and 6 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. – Campbellton Regional Hospital, emergency department (189 Lily Lake Rd., Campbellton)
Oct. 5-7 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. – CCNB – Campbellton Campus (47 Village Ave., Campbellton)
Oct. 4 between 11:40 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. – Bonnie’s Tabata Fitness (1 Union St., Campbellton)
Between Oct. 1-6 – Campbellton Regional Hospital Med-Surg unit (189 Lily Lake Rd., Campbellton)
Bathurst region, Zone 6
Oct. 8 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. – Walmart (900 St. Anne St., Bathurst)
Oct. 8 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – House of Lee (315 Main St., Bathurst)
Oct. 8 between 9:50 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. – Marshalls (700 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst)
Oct. 8 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Sobeys (1125 St. Peter Ave., Bathurst)
Oct. 5 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Dixie Lee Restaurant (49 St-Pierre Blvd. W., Caraquet)
Oct. 4 between noon and 1 p.m. – L’Entracte Resto Pub (3394 Principale St., Tracadie)
Oct. 3 between 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Walmart (900 St. Anne St., Bathurst)
Miramichi region, Zone 7
Oct. 10 between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. – Tim Hortons (188 King St., Miramichi)
Oct. 5 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Downtown Beauty Salon (1706 Water St., Miramichi)
Oct. 3 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Harvey’s (2470 King George Highway, Miramichi)
Public Health recommends that people who have been at a possible public exposure site and are not fully vaccinated get a COVID test, even if they don’t have symptoms. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811.
If they do have symptoms, they must isolate while they await their results.
For people who are fully vaccinated, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID test if symptoms develop.
Anyone who frequented the locations at the specified dates and times should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters, for the next 14 days.
Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
People with one of those symptoms should stay at home, call 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.
Lin CC, et al. Poster 407. Presented at: American Neurological Association Annual Meeting; Oct. 17-19, 2021 (virtual meeting).
Disclosures:
Healio Neurology was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at time of publication.
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The likelihood that opioid treatment for common neurological conditions was initiated appeared to decrease with greater access to neurologists or other specialists who offered alternative pain treatment.
Researchers presented these findings at the American Neurological Association annual meeting.
“Despite limited evidence of long-term opioid efficacy in the management of these conditions, studies have shown that opioid treatment is quite common,” Chun Chieh Lin, PhD, MBA,assistant research scientist in the department of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School, said during a virtual presentation. “Previous studies have looked into factors associated with opioid initiation but have [not evaluated] providers’ roles.”
In the current study, Lin and colleagues sought to investigate opioid initiation trends among patients with new diagnoses of neuropathy, headache and low back pain over time. They also aimed to pinpoint factors linked to opioid initiation among opioid-naive adults with new neurologic diagnoses. They analyzed statistics from 2008 to 2018 Medicare data for patients aged 18 or older with incident neuropathy, headache or low back pain diagnoses between 2010 and 2017.
Primary outcomes included opioid initiation, defined as having the first opioid prescription filled at or after the patient’s diagnosis date, and disease-related opioid initiation, defined as having the first opioid prescription filled within 7 days of a disease-specific visit claim. The other primary outcome was chronic opioid use initiation, defined as having at least 10 opioid prescription fulfillments or at least a 120-day opioid supply within 1 year of initiation. Covariates included diagnosing provider specialty, alternative therapies, regional provider density and patient characteristics.
Results showed 20,086 neuropathy, 49,415 headache and 71,347 low back pain diagnoses between 2010 and 2017 without other chronic pain conditions or filled opioid prescriptions within 2 years before the index diagnosis. Fifty-four percent of patients with neuropathy, 54{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients with headache and 62{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients with low back pain initiated opioids, with more than one-third of these prescribed by primary care providers. Between 4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} and 6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} became chronic opioid users within 12 months of initiation. Fewer than one-third of initial opioid prescriptions were less than a 3-day supply. Two percent of patients with neuropathy, 8{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients with headache and 22{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients with low back pain initiated disease-linked opioids.
“[These] data can inform policymakers to provide a better support mechanism for providers who have difficulty managing [patients’] pain and [assist] patients in accessing specialists in low-density regions,” Lin said during the presentation.
By Michael Kurland, who released Branded Team in 2014, transforming the facility administration marketplace with his eyesight to #BeBetter.
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The pandemic inflicted an untold amount of money of stress on absolutely everyone. Irrespective of whether your part was in the mailroom, the boardroom, the classroom or the crisis place, it was inescapable. Some individuals were being able to experience out the storm without the need of a scar. Other folks are nonetheless reeling from it.
Perhaps, if you are like me, you are attempting to recalibrate your lifestyle and adjust to a new way of functioning and living. These months of uncertainty and at any time-changing circumstances have taken a toll on us, physically, emotionally and mentally. It is probably that we have picked up some very poor behaviors that want to be replaced.
Enable Them Go
For me, I was overindulging in food stuff, consume and television. My former dedication to a healthy way of living was tossed aside as I dealt with the problems of main my corporation by this significant disaster. Also, doing work from property, whilst in the earlier was pleasant, started to really feel isolating, primarily for some of my staff members who reside alone.
Quite a few people’s actions throughout this time may well have been to “numb the suffering.” As a substitute of persevering in our healthy behavior, we grabbed the bag of chips, we poured an additional cocktail, we obtained unneeded merchandise or we memorized the channel guidebook so as to not overlook an episode of our most loved reveals.
Nonetheless, as we arrive out of this as soon as-in-a-life time occasion, it is time to re-evaluate. It is time to recommit to our once-balanced behavior or, for the very first time, create new types.
Make A Transform
Transform is not straightforward. Terrible habits are challenging to split. Nevertheless if we are to arise from this demo “better, more quickly and more powerful,” an truthful evaluation of our way of living is wanted. You just can’t improve what you can not name, so it is time to glance in the mirror and inquire a several essential thoughts:
1. What positive improvements or encounters do I want to keep on? For instance: devote much more time with relatives due to daily commute time remaining freed up.
2. What overall health or wellness methods do I will need to re-invigorate?
Your responses will figure out your course of motion. As a CEO, it is my responsibility to steer the ship. It is essential that I wander the walk. I can’t authentically market our wellness method and guide an harmful daily life. I can’t convey to others to rest and recharge if my hair is normally on hearth.
Just one of my favored books, Atomic Habits by James Obvious, has some outstanding guidelines on how to create new practices and crack previous ones. For illustration, to produce a new practice, make it noticeable by writing it down. To split a lousy pattern, do the opposite. That is, get any publicity to it out of your environment.
Be The Real North
As leaders, we established the tone for our businesses. We are the embodiment of our culture, and our team customers search to us as examples. In my enterprise, “Be Better” is our philosophy. If my staff sees me contradicting this, what incentive do they have to adhere to it? If I’m constantly likely in opposition to what I profess to be our eyesight, my integrity as a leader and my team’s rely on in me will falter.
You are your team’s guideline as a result of tumultuous times. Your habits, choices and steps are on exhibit. To encourage modify in your team, you will have to be the modify you want them to be. Listed here are some guidelines to aid you get started off:
1. Evaluate your every day habits.
No matter whether it is trying to keep a journal or tracking your steps in an app, looking at is believing. When we can discover the trouble, we can occur up with a solution. It may perhaps be challenging to confess our poor routines, but if we want to change, this is an crucial initially step.
2. Begin with a smaller improve.
Merely changing one particular cup of espresso or goblet of wine with a glass of drinking water is adequate to soar-begin your post-pandemic lifestyle. Small modifications over time experience major results. Apply can make best, as they say. Although we’re not seeking perfection, we need to be looking for perseverance.
3. Remember the entire you.
We are more than what we try to eat. Our feelings and emotions perform a big part in our in general wellbeing. If we’ve uncovered anything, it is that our mental wellbeing is crucial to our capability to cope with worry. Meditating, undertaking yoga or adopting a new respiratory procedure are just a few means to lower the noise.
4. You’re not alone.
Human beings are not supposed to be lone wolves. We are social beings. If you or your group has been isolating, develop a plan to re-socialize. Look for out networking teams or social clubs within just your comfort zone. Select up the telephone as an alternative of texting. Reignite these human connections.
5. Acquire a walk… in anyone else’s footwear.
The biggest lesson I have discovered from these past months is a further comprehension of other people today, their situation and their reactions to the various hiccups in their life. I have viewed good friends and my workforce wrestle to stability pandemic policies and laws, homeschooling their small children and their careers. It is a whole lot even beneath the most effective of circumstances.
Your staff may possibly be placing on a courageous deal with out of panic of judgment. What I’ve recognized is just for the reason that somebody seems to be great on the outside is no indicator of their legitimate point out of thoughts. Go the extra mile and really do not get “I’m fine” as the remaining reply.
Like several, I’m gradually acquiring back to my pre-pandemic healthier life-style. Day by day workout routines have returned. My yoga and meditation practices have been resurrected. There’s a lot more h2o and less Netflix.
By taking better care of me, I can take improved treatment of my staff, who will in turn just take better care of them selves. I want my crew to be profitable — not just in between the hrs of 9 and 5, but the complete day and for the relaxation of their lives. By walking the walk, I show them that it’s achievable.
There’s a great deal likely versus a college or university student’s drive to keep healthier: worry, absence of rest, fast food stuff, booze, and a jam-packed schedule. But receiving in shape juggling tons of university work is far from an impossible feat.
Fortunately, we have the leading ideas that are great for school college students who really do not have a whole lot of spare time. Get your jogging sneakers prepared — it is time to get healthy! 💪
1. Download a Exercise Application 📱
No time to go to the campus gymnasium? Obtain a workout app so you will not have to! Irrespective of whether you want to obtain free of charge training routines or spend for an all-in-a person physical fitness tracker, there are lots of apps that can give you what you will need.
Quite a few apps permit you to use their content for free of charge, but you can also pay out a smaller cost (possibly every month or annually) to get more quality companies, such as customized training, food plans, and lengthier physical exercise videos.
2. Subscribe to a Exercise YouTube Channel 📺
Acquiring a personalized trainer or a tailor-suit application might be as well considerably for your pupil budget but that is why you have media platforms like YouTube to the rescue.
Figure out what kind of workout you want to adhere to, set in the correct search phrases (these kinds of as rookie, intermediate, body weight reduction, cardio, or yoga) in the search bar, and you are all established to work out in the comfort of your personal room.
3. Research When You Exercising 📘
If a hectic review plan retains you from hitting your physical fitness aims, why not do the two at the same time? Consider your notes with you to the gymnasium, scout for an offered treadmill or stationary bicycle, spot your notes in front of you, and get began with the supreme fit college pupil combo: memorizing and training!
This way, you’re not only giving your thoughts a exercise but your body can remain in suggestion-leading condition much too. Really don’t overlook to invite a number of friends to join you (that is if you can encourage them!).
There are a lot of approaches to continue to keep up a balanced way of life even though going by means of the worries of college or university. Image: Jonathan Borba/Unsplash
4. Test Dorm-Helpful Exercises 🧘♀️
Is laziness hitting a minor bit also strong now? There are little-house exercise routines you can very easily apply in any location within your dorm home.
Select from air squats, lunges, thrust-ups, planks, higher knees, and wall sits to create your schedule (you can even use some of your furnishings as machines then maximize the reps). A fast research on Google and you’ll also see tons of videos detailing other quick workouts you can do from the comfort and ease of your individual space!
5. Implement for an Energetic Element-Time Occupation 🚴
Getting a career that pushes you to be energetic — irrespective of whether it’s serving tables, undertaking errands, stocking shelves, or offering food stuff and items by bike — is surely a good go. Believe about likely with aspect hustles this sort of as getting a campus tour tutorial for prospective college students, a nanny to quite energetic youngsters, or even a line prepare dinner at a quickly-paced kitchen.
Hours of sitting down for course will not do a system fantastic so discover a thing that’ll press you to use some muscular tissues. Furthermore, you get to generate some money!
6. Obtain a Fitness Buddy 🤼
Dropping bodyweight will not seem so exhausting if you have a few buddies to sign up for you! Viewing common faces at the health club presents you the commitment you need to have to adhere to your workout regimen (and work even harder each session).
Have prepared good friends list their own aims and then grow to be each individual other’s support method. If you detect that they are heading off keep track of (or vice versa), give a speedy nudge and remind them of their goal. You can even make it a competition to up the ante and enable you get even much more fired up to be nutritious.
Doing work out jointly doubles the exciting. Image: Luna Lively Physical fitness/Unsplash
7. Decide on to Stroll Anywhere You Can 🚶♂️
Ditching your motor vehicle or general public transport in favor of strolling all-around campus is a excellent way to get your measures in. No matter whether you’re working an errand, going to a social gathering, or just coming residence right after a tiring working day, deciding upon to walk can do miracles for your stamina and focus!
Furthermore, occupied higher education learners identified to be fit can be additional prosperous if they integrate workouts into day to day functions. Just bear in mind to buy comfortable shoes. 😉
8. Set a Program ⏰
Prepare your day all-around your workout routine so you really do not come across far too several hurdles that could maintain you from breaking a sweat. If you desire to do the job out in the morning, choose a course timeslot that’ll let you to sneak in a whole session beforehand.
On the other hand, if you only have time in the evening, you can electricity by means of a work out session right after course, and ahead of other routines that might depart you bodily and mentally drained — like that research.
9. Make the Most of Campus Sources 🏋
Certainly, your campus existence may well be the supreme nemesis to your exercise journey but that does not mean that it is all poor. There are tons of perks in (and outside the house) campus you can use to aid you develop into leaner and more healthy.
If having to pay tuition gives you entry to a physical fitness middle, get some commitment by signing up for different exercise courses. Or, if you are allowed, why not enroll in PE electives considering that college credit rating is a excellent determination to be much more energetic. If that’s not achievable, scout out close by parks and gyms, as effectively as amateur sporting activities golf equipment. It can be a excellent way to make new pals too!
10. Inventory up on Balanced Treats 🥑
When university learners are pressured (or hungover), there is practically nothing additional comforting than junk food stuff. Candy bars, sodas, greasy cheeseburgers, and salty chips — they all audio delectable but they’re not specifically great for you.
Of training course, we’re not suggesting you give it all up (every thing in moderation!), but it is finest to have healthier treats on hand ahead of you get the munchies. Go with path blend, granola bars, and fruit as a substitute of chocolate and if you want one thing heavier, lower up some cucumbers, carrots, and celery and consume it with hummus.
Continue to keep an eye out for wholesome snacks. Photo: Miksturaproduction/Freekpik
11. Consume Small Portions Consistently 👨🍳
Heading for hrs without the need of consuming will always backfire. The for a longer period your abdomen goes vacant, the increased the tendency is to overeat afterwards. This is why you ought to never shop for groceries whilst you are hungry — for the reason that you might close up buying all the things you see!
It’s not a great notion to starve or deprive your self. The trick is to manage your parts and be much more attentive to what you set in your human body. But if you want some dessert, go in advance.
12. Get Sufficient Snooze 🛌
A superior night’s rest is an vital variable in owning a healthier way of life but it may perhaps not be simple to occur by at the time you are a college student. Right here are some bonus recommendations to make confident that you get seven hrs when you are ready:
Flip Off Your Products at Evening
There has been sizeable study proving that fluorescent and LED lights coming from your units, such as phones and laptops, avert or delay the normal production of melatonin, toning down the emotion of sleepiness. You could possibly want to set down your mobile phone or laptop computer an hour in advance of you slumber or transform on your phone’s night method so that you can even now hear to some tunes prior to bedtime.
Use Darker Curtains
For a lot of folks, acquiring just a small bit of gentle in their rooms can wholly disrupt their sleep. You might want to make investments in darker, thicker curtains that can preserve daylight absent from your encounter so you can slumber extra, especially through the weekends. Even though you must generally have an alarm all set so you will not miss a morning course or errand!
Decrease Caffeine Consumption Just after Lunch
Really do not consume far too substantially espresso in the afternoon or evening. Relying on the preference of coffee and size, some people will however truly feel the consequences of caffeine at evening. So, if you’re not really cramming for an exam or composing a late paper, it’s very best to adhere to decaf.
College everyday living can get rather chaotic but there is no purpose for you to overlook out on using treatment of on your own. Stick to your program, establish a great help program, question for enable from time to time, and you are nicely on your way to receiving into tip-top rated form!
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