N.B. reports six new COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday, 137 in hospital
Health officials in New Brunswick reported six new deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Public health says the deaths involve:
- a person in their 80s in Zone 1 (Moncton region)
- a person in their 80s in Zone 3 (Fredericton region)
- a person in their 80s in Zone 6 (Bathurst region)
- a person 90 and over in Zone 6 (Bathurst region)
- a person in their 40s Zone 7 (Miramichi region)
- a person in their 80s in Zone 7 (Miramichi region)
According to the province's COVID-19 online dashboard, there have been 221 deaths related to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
VACCINE UPDATE
More than 40 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers, or 303,000 people, have received their COVID-19 booster dose.
“I am pleased to see so many people take this important step to better protect themselves against the Omicron variant,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “I hope to see that number continue to rise in the weeks ahead.”
According to the province's online dashboard, as of Wednesday, 1,622,614 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.
Of those, 689,611 were first doses, 630,004 were second doses, and 302,999 were booster doses.
The province says booster doses are available to everyone 18 and over, as long as five months have passed since their second dose.
Appointments can be booked online at vaccination clinics offered through the Vitalité and Horizon health networks, or by phone at 1-833-437-1424.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
As of Wednesday, public health says there are 137 people in hospital due to COVID-19, eight of whom are in intensive care.
Of those in hospital:
- 80 were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19
- 107 are aged 60 and over
- One person is on a ventilator
- four people are aged 19 and under
Health officials say there are also 489 health-care workers who have tested positive and are isolating as of Wednesday.
CASE DATA
According to the province's online dashboard, an additional 520 new PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified on Wednesday.
The dashboard also reports 557 new recoveries, bringing the total number of active infections to 5,316.
ON TRACK TO RETURN TO LEVEL TWO
During a news conference Wednesday, Health Minister Dorothy Shepard said the "modelling looks good" for a return to Level 2 of the province’s COVID-19 winter plan Sunday at midnight.
She also acknowledged January’s high death rate. Since the beginning of the month, 60 people have died as a result of the virus. Most of those people are over the age of 70.
“The majority of cases have passed in hospital,” she said. “So there’s various reasons that we can just anecdotally point to. The fact that our population is the oldest population in the country, the fact that we have a number of chronic illnesses in our population, so all of these things play a factor.”
Later Wednesday, the Department of Health sent CTV Atlantic a statement regarding the rate of deaths so far in 2022.
“The number of deaths as a result of COVID-19 or a complication from COVID-19 in New Brunswick is quite concerning, not to mention devastating for the loved ones of those impacted, and the province as a whole,” a spokesperson said. “In response, the province is aggressively advocating booster doses for all who are eligible, and first and second doses to our youth demographic, in order to prevent the spread from reaching those who are more susceptive to severe symptoms.”
So far, about 30,000 children between five and 11 have had their first dose.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Security guard shot, critically injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.