N.B. reports 3 more COVID-19 related deaths Thursday, slight increase in hospitalizations

Health officials in New Brunswick reported three more deaths related to COVID-19 on Thursday.

According to the province’s online dashboard, the deaths involve:

• a person in their 40s in the Saint John region (Zone 2)
• a person aged 90 and over in the Saint John region (Zone 2)
• a person aged 90 and over in the Fredericton region (Zone 3)

There have been 278 deaths related to COVID-19 reported in New Brunswick since the start of the pandemic.

According to the province, 54.55 per cent of the deaths have been in people with partial or no vaccine protection, while 45.45 per cent were "protected," which public health defines as boosted or fully vaccinated less than six months.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

According to the province’s online dashboard, a total of 140 people were hospitalized as of Thursday-- an increase of one person since Wednesday.

Of those in hospital, 63 were admitted due to COVID-19, while 77 were admitted for other reasons, but tested positive for the virus.

Fifteen people are in intensive care with COVID-19 on Thursday. Of those, 13 patients were admitted to the unit due to the virus, and two were admitted for other reasons, but have tested positive for COVID-19.

Eight people are currently on ventilators in New Brunswick.

NEW CASES

There were 351 new PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported Thursday in New Brunswick.

Officials also reported 605 new cases using rapid tests.

The breakdown of the new PCR-confirmed cases by health zone is as follows:

• Zone 1 – the Moncton region – 94 new cases
• Zone 2 – the Saint John region – 95 new cases
• Zone 3 – the Fredericton region - 84 new cases
• Zone 4 – the Edmundston region – 28 new cases
• Zone 5 – the Campbellton region – 8 new cases
• Zone 6 – the Bathurst region – 33 new cases
• Zone 7 – the Miramichi region - 9 new cases

According to the online dashboard, there are 3,396 active cases of the virus confirmed in New Brunswick.

HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IN ISOLATION

As of Thursday, there were a total of 321 health-care workers who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were isolating.

Here is a breakdown of the health-care workers isolating as of Thursday:

• Vitalité Health Network - 120
• Horizon Health Network - 161
• Ambulance New Brunswick - 40

VACCINATION UPDATE

As of Thursday, 92.5 per cent of New Brunswickers have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 85.7 per cent are fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine, and 47 per cent have now received a booster dose.

In total, 1,690,424 doses of the vaccine have been administered in New Brunswick.