N.B. reports 6 new COVID-19 deaths, decrease in hospitalizations

New Brunswick is reporting six new COVID-19-related deaths in its latest reporting period.
The province is also reporting an additional 25 deaths that happened before Aug. 28, 2022.
"As noted previously, there’s typically a lag in reporting, as Public Health relies on SNB’s Vital Statistics for notifications of deaths," read the province's report.
"Due to the intricacies of the reporting process, which requires medical practitioners and funeral directors to file paperwork, the lag can sometimes be longer than usual."
Since the start of the pandemic, New Brunswick has reported 812 deaths related to the virus.
The data in Tuesday’s report covers between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The province is reporting a decrease in hospitalizations, with nine new hospital admissions this week, compared to 12 the week before.
As of Saturday, no one had been admitted into intensive care.
The province's report says, since Aug. 28, the rate of hospitalizations is highest among people aged 70 years and older.
NEW CASES
Health officials are reporting 339 new cases during the seven-day period, compared to 263 in the province's last report.
According to the data, 2,154 tests were completed during the current reporting period.
The regional breakdown of newly recorded COVID-19 cases is as follows:
- Zone 1: 86
- Zone 2: 49
- Zone 3: 70
- Zone 4: 18
- Zone 5: 32
- Zone 6: 67
- Zone 7: 17
SELF-REPORTED RAPID TESTS
New Brunswick provides the number of positive self-reported rapid tests in each reporting period.
Between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4, 133 rapid tests were reported to health officials.
The breakdown of those tests is as follows:
- Zone 1: 38
- Zone 2: 32
- Zone 3: 48
- Zone 4: 2
- Zone 5: 1
- Zone 6: 7
- Zone 7: 5
COVID-19 VARIANTS IN THE PROVINCE
Health officials in New Brunswick say a recent random sample sequenced between Jan. 23 and Jan. 30 shows 73 per cent of positive cases were the BA.5 variant.
Twenty-one per cent were the XBB variant and six per cent were BA.2.
The province says 109 specimens were used for the sample.
VACCINATIONS
As of Saturday, 90.9 per cent of people in New Brunswick had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 85.8 per cent had at least two doses, 54.6 per cent had one booster and 29.9 per cent had two boosters.
The province's full weekly report, along with previous reports, can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Upgrading Safe Third Country Agreement about reassuring Canadians: PM Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he feels it is his role to see the Safe Third Country Agreement upgraded, in order to make sure Canadians can continue to have confidence in Canada's immigration system.

Foreign mothers of Canadian children seek escape from ISIS detention camp
A group of lawyers is racing against the clock to get Canadian children and their foreign-born mothers onto a plane that will soon be dispatched to repatriate detainees from prison camps in northeast Syria.
Han Dong resigns from Liberal caucus amid foreign interference allegations
Han Dong has announced he will be sitting as an independent MP after being the subject of foreign interference allegations.
Parks Canada says new reservation system working well as bookings open in busy Banff
Parks Canada says its new online reservation system to book camping sites and other activities at national parks appears to have worked well during its first week of operations.
Budget 2023 to detail crackdown on 'junk fees' for consumers: federal source
A federal source says the coming budget will detail how the Liberals plan to go after hidden or unexpected consumer fees, following the United States announcing its own crackdown on these charges.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canada needs a 'Conservative renaissance'
Canada needs a 'Conservative renaissance,' former prime minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday, but he cautioned that Pierre Poilievre should wait until an election before telling Canadians how he might run the country.
What we know so far about King Charles' coronation
The coronation of King Charles III will take place in May, in a ceremony that is expected to be less extravagant, while underscoring a new era for the Royal Family.
One week later: Rescuers continue search for victims in rubble of Old Montreal fire
It's been one week since a devastating fire tore through a historic building in Old Montreal, killing at least four.
900,000 fewer surgeries were performed over the pandemic in Canada: report
Three years after the start of the pandemic, surgical backlogs and wait times are only just starting to improve, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, with patients still waiting significantly longer for surgeries than they did before the pandemic.