The New Brunswick chief doctor says she has heard rumors of her recent absence from work and has seen speculative posts on social media, most of which are false.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer for health care, has not resigned due to the stress of running COVID-19 in the province. She says she has returned to work after a much-needed vacation.
“The pandemic was a challenge for everyone. “And definitely our team is working really hard throughout the pandemic,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
“So after two very busy years, when the province lifted its restrictions, I decided it was a good time to take a break.”
Russell admitted that there are “many rumors” about what led to this decision and what exactly [she] did while [she] was turned off. “
“Basically, I needed a vacation, no doubt,” she said.
It was good to shut down and decompress.
But then she had a car accident. She hit a deer and smashed her car.
“I’m still in physiotherapy, but I’m doing much better,” she said.
“It was good that I had that time so I could take care of my health, for sure.
House sold
It’s true that Russell sold his house in Fredericton while he was on the road, but she says she just decided to “cut back a little earlier.”
“My eldest has already gone to university, and my youngest is yet to come. So it was a good time with the market, which was what it was for me to do that.
She has not worked on the new album released last Friday by the saxophone blues / funk band The Tortoise, The Hare & The Millionaire, she said.
“No, I leave that to the real professionals who make a living.”
Asked about criticism of her decision to step down, Russell said it was the right move.
“I definitely feel that my job of caring for the people of New Brunswick was so important that I had to step back so I could take care of myself, so I could take care of other people.”
Now she’s doing “very, very well,” she said.
“I feel definitely recharged. I pressed the reset button and reloaded at the helm.”
Russell thanked Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Yves Leger and the rest of the public health team for their hard work and dedication to the New Brunswickers.
“I definitely felt very comfortable leaving the office of the Chief Medical Officer in such good hands.”
Health Secretary Dorothy Shepard said it was good for Russell to return.
“But of course. I mean, you know, we’re a team and we all work together, “she said.
“I have always said that Dr. Russell is our chief health doctor, but she works with the team and when she is not available, she has a team that supports her.”
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