N.L. has Canada's lowest COVID-19 hospitalizations, but model shows rates could climb

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -

New modelling presented by Newfoundland and Labrador health officials projects that hospitalizations in the province could rise over the next week, but Health Minister John Haggie says the system can handle it.

Memorial University professor Proton Rahman presented models Wednesday projecting a maximum of 30 COVID-19 patients in hospital within the next week.

He notes that with seven people in hospital as of Wednesday, the province's hospitalization rate is below the model's lowest forecast for the week.

Rahman's data indicates Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest hospitalization rate in the country, which he credits to the province's vaccination coverage, which is among Canada's highest.

Haggie told reporters today it looks as though the province's health-care system can handle a bump in hospitalizations, but he says the situation is being closely monitored.

Public health reported 731 new cases today, 502 of which were diagnosed in the last 24 hours, while the remaining 229 came from a batch of tests that were sent outside the province for processing over the past two weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2022.