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
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israel vows military operation 'in the very near future' following Hamas attack
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.