Colin Furness contends New Brunswick and other governments have been in denial

An epidemiologist with the University of Toronto says COVID-19 is airborne and it's time for New Brunswick and other governments to accept it.

Colin Furness contends governments have been in denial.

"In Ontario, it was suggested this week, perhaps COVID might be in the air. That's a big step forward. But until we actually confront the reality, we're going to continue to bring a knife to a gunfight."

Furness, who works in infection control, said it's time for New Brunswick to rethink COVID-19 measures and its messaging to the public.

"I would like to see people cleaning the air, putting in HEPA filters, wearing N95 masks when they need to be indoors with others, such as for grocery shopping, and to physical distance in terms of not sharing air, as opposed to physical distance in terms of standing six feet apart.

New Brunswick COVID-19 trajectories 'difficult to predict' with Omicron, says province

N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 2 deaths and 163 new cases, including 16 Omicron

"It's a different way to proceed, and we just don't have any choice now."

New Brunswick reported two more COVID-related deaths Friday and 163 new cases of the virus, including 16 more confirmed cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.That puts the total number of active cases in New Brunswick at 1,255, a record for the province, and the total number of Omicron cases at 30.

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