Six new COVID-19 related deaths in New Brunswick: report

New Brunswick is reporting six new COVID-19-related deaths in its latest reporting period.
Since the start of the pandemic, New Brunswick has reported 862 deaths related to the virus.
The data in Tuesday’s report covers between March 19 and March 25.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
The number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 dipped slightly to 15 this week, compared to 17 in last week's report.
No new admissions to intensive care were reported in the latest period.
The report says, since Aug. 28, 2022, the rate of hospitalizations is highest among people aged 70 and older.
NEW CASES
Health officials are reporting 212 new cases during the seven-day period, compared to 313 in the province's last report.
According to the data, 1,278 tests were completed during the current reporting period.
The regional breakdown of newly recorded COVID-19 cases is as follows:
- Zone 1: 77
- Zone 2: 54
- Zone 3: 36
- Zone 4: 9
- Zone 5: 10
- Zone 6: 16
- Zone 7: 10
SELF-REPORTED RAPID TESTS
New Brunswick provides the number of positive self-reported rapid tests in each reporting period.
Between March 19 and March 25, 141 rapid tests were reported to health officials.
The breakdown of those tests is as follows:
- Zone 1: 59
- Zone 2: 35
- Zone 3: 32
- Zone 4: 3
- Zone 5: 0
- Zone 6: 10
- Zone 7: 2
COVID-19 VARIANTS IN THE PROVINCE
Health officials in New Brunswick say a recent random sample sequenced between March 13 and March 20 shows 72 per cent of positive cases were the XBB variant.
Twenty-four per cent were the BA.5 variant and four per cent were BA.2.
The province says 153 specimens were used for the sample.
VACCINATIONS
As of Saturday, 91.1 per cent of people in New Brunswick had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 85.9 per cent had at least two doses, 54.8 per cent had one booster and 30.4 per cent had two boosters.
The province's full weekly report, along with previous reports, can be found online.
For full coverage of New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
China rebukes U.S., Canadian navies for Taiwan Strait transit
China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for 'deliberately provoking risk' after the countries' navies staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Alcohol policies in every province, territory receive failing grade in meeting public health standards: report
A new report has found that alcohol policies in all provinces and territories are failing to meet public health standards.
Four kids drown, man missing after Quebec fishing accident: provincial police
A fishing excursion ended in tragedy on Saturday when four children died in a village in northeastern Quebec, provincial police said. Authorities said they were still searching for a missing man in his 30s who was a member of the fishing party and remained unaccounted for.
Officials declare Halifax-area wildfire largely contained as rain brings relief
Heavy rain and some military reinforcements arrived to assist efforts on Saturday to quell the wildfires that have destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of thousands of people across Nova Scotia.
Fighting climate change or funding fossil fuels? America wants it 'both ways': U.S. ambassador
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says America 'absolutely wants to have it both ways' when it comes to fighting climate change while pursuing fossil fuel projects.
Antipsychotic drugs use increased in Canadian long-term care homes, pointing to possible quality-of-care issues: study
New study finds increase in antipsychotic drugs use in long-term care homes across Canada, despite no significant increase in behavioural symptoms – something that may expose a potential area of concern for quality of care, researchers say.
'Very good outcome' for sale of Ottawa Senators expected in the next few weeks, NHL Commissioner says
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the process to sell the Ottawa Senators is moving forward as "quickly as possible," and the New York-based company overseeing the sale is advising to "expect a very good outcome in the next few weeks."
More than 5,000 new species discovered at future deep-sea mining site in Pacific Ocean
More than 5,000 new species have been discovered at an expansive future deep-sea mining site in the Pacific Ocean.
Ukraine says inspections found nearly a quarter of its air-raid shelters locked or unusable
Concerns around civilian safety spiked in Ukraine on Saturday, as officials announced that an inspection had found nearly a quarter of the country's air-raid shelters locked or unusable, just days after a woman in Kyiv allegedly died waiting outside a shuttered shelter during a Russian missile barrage.