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
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.