COVID-19 cases on the rise in N.B., public health yet to determine if province is seeing 'summer surge'
Over the last week, the number of positive PCR and rapid COVID-19 tests have almost doubled when compared to the week before in New Brunswick, and the province added four more deaths bringing the total to 429.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell says the subvariant BA.5 is “increasing at a higher rate than BA.4” and makes up 33 per cent of random samples sequenced.
She says they’re watching the surge in other provinces – like Ontario and Quebec – but can’t confirm if New Brunswick is seeing the same trends yet.
“Right now, all I can tell you is that we’re seeing increases in numbers all across the board in terms of POCT tests, PCR tests, hospitalizations etc.,” she said. “We’re watching that closely.”
She said initially, the modeling in the spring suggested another wave in the fall – but with COVID-19, “there are no guarantees.”
In New Brunswick, fourth doses, or second boosters, are only available for those 50 and older so long as five months have passed since their last shot.
When that will change, Russell couldn’t say.
“We really base our decisions around what’s happening in New Brunswick right now. And our epidemiology team is really continuing to point us in the direction of those at highest risk, and so those are the people that we really need to make sure are eligible and get those boosters into them,” she said.
That includes those at most risk for hospitalization, including people aged 60 to 79, those living in long-term care, and individuals with a chronic medical condition.
Liberal leadership hopeful Donald Arseneault spoke out on social media, asking why – if there’s a supply – those boosters aren’t being made available for the wider public.
Arseneault, 47, booked an appointment at a pharmacy successfully, but was told by the pharmacy the day of that they couldn’t give it to him because of his age.
He has since come down with COVID-19 and says he knows several others who’ve also, recently, come down with the virus.
“One of my good friends in Saint John, I asked him why he didn’t go to the Memorial Cup last week and he said COVID is now rampant,” he said. “We had a Canada Day event in Dieppe last Wednesday and I know of five people that has COVID that potentially was related to that event – there was 150 people crammed in that room.”
Russell couldn’t say that the 12-day Memorial Cup event is the culprit, but confirmed the numbers in the Saint John region are the highest in the province.
“What I can say is when you look at the numbers from a zone perspective, from a region perspective, we definitely see the highest number right now in zone two and a sharp rise there,” she said. “Again, we know the risks increase when you’re indoors, without masks, etc. So the more time people spend outdoors, the lower the risk.”
Prince Edward Island is encouraging anyone over 12 to get their booster, no matter which one.
The island reported 1,070 new cases in the past week, with 10 people in hospital. Anyone 12 and over are eligible so long as six months have passed after their last shot, or three months after contracting the virus.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.