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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
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.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
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.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.