COVID-19 kills 4 more in New Brunswick, virus activity remains 'moderate'

COVID-19 has killed at least four more New Brunswickers, but hospitalizations and outbreaks remain "stable," and new lab-confirmed cases of the virus have decreased, according to figures released by the province Tuesday.

"COVID-19 activity remains moderate," the Respiratory Watch report says.

The four new reported deaths occurred between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21 and were all people aged 65 or older, the report shows.

Only confirmed cases who die in hospital are counted as COVID deaths, after the province recently changed its definition.

The latest deaths raise the pandemic death toll to at least 953.

Fifty-eight people were hospitalized either for or with COVID during the reporting week, including one who required intensive care, compared to 57 hospital admissions the previous week, two of whom required intensive care.

Among those hospitalized is one person aged 20 to 44, eight people aged 45 to 64, and 49 aged 65 or older.

Fourteen lab-confirmed COVID outbreaks have been declared, the same number as the previous week.

Three of them are at nursing homes, while the rest are at "other facilities," which could include adult residential homes and correctional centres.

There have been 107 outbreaks confirmed since the beginning of the respiratory illness season on Aug. 27.

137 new COVID cases, 2 flu cases

A total of 137 new cases have been confirmed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests, with a positivity rate of 15 per cent.

That's down from 154 cases and a positivity rate of 17 per cent Oct. 8 to Oct. 14.

The number of PCR tests conducted dropped dramatically from the same time last year, to fewer than 1,000, compared with more than 5,000, a chart in the report shows.

The regional breakdown of positive cases includes:

• Moncton region, Zone 1 — 31.
• Saint John region, Zone 2 — 43.
• Fredericton region, Zone 3 — 31.
• Edmundston region, Zone 4 — 11.
• Campbellton region, Zone 5 — 9.
• Bathurst region, Zone 6 — 2.
• Miramichi region, Zone 7 — 10.

There have been 41,395 COVID-19 vaccines administered since Oct. 4, according to the Department of Health. The updated XBB.1.5 vaccines have only been available to most New Brunswickers since Oct. 16, but some were made available to people in long-term care settings as soon as stock began arriving in the province, said department spokesperson Adam Bowie.

CBC has requested an interview with outgoing Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell or another Public Health official and is awaiting a response.

Two cases of influenza A were confirmed through lab tests between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21, raising the seasonal total to eight, according to the report. Two people have been hospitalized to date because of the flu.

No outbreaks of influenza-like illness at schools have been reported for the first time in a month.

Nearly 61,000 people have received a flu shot since Oct. 4, the department said.

Vitalité updates monthly report

Vitalité has 14 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Oct. 28, according to its monthly update. Seven are at the Edmundston Regional Hospital, five at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, and one each at the Campbellton Regional Hospital and Tracadie Hospital, the Vitalité website shows.

Twenty-three health-care workers are off the job after testing positive for the virus.

There are COVID outbreaks on two units at the Campbellton Regional Hospital — the geriatric unit and the transitional care unit.

Horizon Health Network has not yet updated its weekly COVID-19 dashboard, but there are outbreaks on several hospital units, according to its website. They include:

• The Moncton Hospital: cardiology, family practice/stroke unit, oncology, rehabilitation, pediatrics, chronic/geriatric, and rehabilitation.
• Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital: medical unit and orthopedics, ear, nose and throat, and plastics.
• Oromocto Public Hospital: medical unit.
• Miramichi Regional Hospital: surgical care and cardiac stepdown/stroke.
• St. Joseph's Hospital: transitional care unit, Floor 7.
• Charlotte County Hospital: Floor 1.
• Ridgewood: Victory unit.
• Veterans Health Fredericton: the Veterans Health Unit on Priestman Street, and the Veterans Health Unit on Regent Street.