N.B. reports 8 new COVID-19 deaths; decrease in hospitalizations, cases

Nurse Loukia Micheli prepares a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Piraeus, near Athens on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) 

New Brunswick is reporting eight new COVID-19-related deaths in its latest reporting period.

The data in Tuesday’s report covers between Jan. 22 and Jan. 28.

Since the start of the pandemic, New Brunswick has reported 781 deaths related to the virus.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

The province is reporting a decrease in hospitalizations, with 12 new hospital admissions this week, compared to 17 the week before.

As of Saturday, one person 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 263 new cases during the seven-day period, compared to 321 in the province's last report.

According to the data, 2,188 tests were completed during the current reporting period.

The regional breakdown of newly recorded COVID-19 cases is as follows:

• Zone 1: 67
• Zone 2: 63
• Zone 3: 62
• Zone 4: 13
• Zone 5: 12
• Zone 6: 32
• Zone 7: 14

SELF-REPORTED RAPID TESTS

New Brunswick provides the number of positive self-reported rapid tests in each reporting period.

Between Jan. 22 and Jan. 28, 145 rapid tests were reported to health officials.

The breakdown of those tests is as follows:

• Zone 1: 49
• Zone 2: 27
• Zone 3: 43
• Zone 4: 7
• Zone 5: 7
• Zone 6: 10
• Zone 7: 2

COVID-19 VARIANTS IN THE PROVINCE

Health officials in New Brunswick say a recent random sample sequenced between Jan. 8 and Jan. 23 shows 87 per cent of positive cases were the BA.5 variant.

Ten per cent were the XBB variant and three per cent were BA.2. 

The province says 131 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 29.6 per cent had two boosters.

The province's full weekly report, along with previous reports, can be found online.