N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 1 death, 3 more cases of Omicron subvariant confirmed

Another New Brunswicker with COVID-19 has died and the province has three more confirmed cases of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron subvariant called BA.2.

Hospitalizations dropped by 11 Tuesday to 101, according to the COVID-19 dashboard. That's the lowest they've been in a month.

Eleven people are in intensive care, down two, and seven of them on ventilators, unchanged.

The latest death is a person in their 90s in the Saint John region, Zone 2, the dashboard shows. This marks 65 COVID-related deaths in the 18 days since the province moved to Level 2 from the most restrictive Level 3, and 293 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane confirmed the additional cases of BA.2 in an email to CBC News.

He did not respond to a request for other information about the cases, including their location, symptoms, whether they are hospitalized, their vaccination status, or whether they have any underlying health conditions.

BA.2 is believed to be about 30 per cent more transmissible than the BA.1 Omicron variant that has caused a surge in hospitalizations and cases during the fifth wave of the pandemic.

The province's first case — a person in the Moncton region, Zone 1 — was announced on Feb. 4. The source of infection in that case has not been disclosed.

Asked if or how the subvariant changes Public Health's projections or approach, Macfarlane replied, "Current data from other jurisdictions indicate that BA.2 has a higher attack rate [than] previous Omicron strains; however, there is no evidence of increased severity at this point in time."

Last week, when Premier Blaine Higgs announced the province will move to Level 1 of the COVID-19 winter plan, the least restrictive level, on Friday at 11:59 p.m., Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, presented modelling, showing there will be a "bump" in hospitalizations. But they will be "manageable," she said.

Russell did not provide a number of hospitalizations, but they will reach about 190 between late February and early March before steadily decreasing to at or near zero by April 16, according to the graphic she shared.

Until now, the record high has been 165.

When asked by CBC whether the modelling accounts for BA.2 being confirmed in the province, Russell did not answer directly. If the province needs to make any changes to its modelling based on increased cases of the subvariant, it will, she said.

"While the impact of all variants continues to be monitored, we know that vaccination — including a booster — in combination with Public Health and individual measures, is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants," Macfarlane said in an emailed statement.

Measures such as keeping contacts low and masking continue to be effective in managing COVID-19, he said.

"As always, and with all variants of concern, getting vaccinated is key to deterring symptoms and onset of COVID-19 infections."

As of Tuesday, 48.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received their booster shot, up from 47.9 per cent, 86.1 per cent have received two doses of a vaccine, up from 86 per cent, and 92.6 per cent had received one dose, unchanged again.

Breakdown of hospitalizations and cases

Of the 101 people in hospital Tuesday, 49 were admitted for COVID-19, and 52 were admitted for something else when they tested positive for the virus.

Three of the people hospitalized are 19 or under, while those in ICU are aged 40 and older.

The seven-day average of hospitalizations decreased again to 124 from 131, while the seven-day average of the number of people in intensive care decreased to 14 from 15.

Hospital occupancy across the province remains steady at 90 per cent, but ICU capacity climbed to 71 per cent, from 69 per cent Monday.

The number of health-care workers off the job after testing positive for COVID decreased by one to 330. That includes 157 from the Horizon Health Network, 120 from the Vitalité Health Network and 53 from Extra-Mural/Ambulance New Brunswick.

Through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests, Public Health has confirmed 276 new cases of COVID, putting the province's active case count at 3,249, a decrease of 116.

An additional 678 people self-reported they tested positive on rapid tests.

The regional breakdown of PCR-confirmed cases includes:

Moncton region, Zone 1

• 108 new cases and 1,142 active cases

Saint John region, Zone 2

• 42 new cases and 653 active cases

Fredericton region, Zone 3

• 64 new cases and 601 active cases

Edmundston region, Zone 4

• 15 new cases and 317 active cases

Campbellton region, Zone 5

• 17 new cases and 87 active cases

Bathurst region, Zone 6

• 11 new cases and 293 active cases

Miramichi region, Zone 7

• 19 new cases and 156 active cases

A total of 712,284 PCR tests have been conducted to date, including 1,640 on Monday.

New Brunswick has had 33,342 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 29,798 recoveries so far.

Ottawa drops PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers

Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to show proof of a negative molecular test, such as a PCR, when entering Canada, effective Feb. 28, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Tuesday.

They will still be required to take a pre-arrival test, but they can opt instead for an authorized, lab-administered rapid antigen test, which is typically cheaper than a molecular test, which can cost close to $100. The rapid test can provide  results within minutes instead of days.

In addition, unvaccinated children under the age of 12 entering Canada with fully vaccinated parents will no longer have to avoid schools, daycare or other crowded settings for 14 days.

The government also plans to lift its current advisory against non-essential travel abroad, said Duclos.

"We have passed the peak of the latest wave driven by the Omicron variant," he said. "In addition, after two years of following individual public health measures, such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, keeping our distance and staying at home if sick, Canadians know what to do to keep themselves and each other safe."

If conditions continue to improve, further measures, such as the testing requirement for Canadians visiting the United States for trips under 72 hours, could also be dropped, Duclos said.

For months, critics have argued both the pre- and post-arrival tests are a waste of money, as Omicron has already spread across Canada.

Small businesses support lifting most restrictions, poll finds

A majority of small business owners in every province support lifting most COVID-19 restrictions, such as capacity limits and travel restrictions, according to a new poll from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

But in some Atlantic provinces, the majority of respondents said mask rules should continue "for the time being," president Dan Kelly said in a statement. The breakdown by province was not provided.

When asked which business restrictions should be eliminated, small business owners said:

• Capacity restrictions on all sectors — 74 per cent
• Travel restrictions, such as PCR tests for crossing the border — 69 per cent
• Vaccine passports for customers — 66 per cent
• Vaccine mandates for employees — 60 per cent

When asked about masking requirements, opinions were more split. Fifty-six per cent said they should be eliminated, but 42 per cent disagreed.

"While there is majority support for removing most COVID restrictions among small business owners, it should be noted that the view is not universal," said Kelly.

He cited vaccine passports as another example. Some business owners feel they "make customers feel safer," he said.

The CFIB is calling on all governments to announce plans to remove all COVID business restrictions and a "solid plan" for small firms to stay open.

Any restrictions on business activities that remain need to be based on clearly-communicated scientific evidence with targets and dates shared for their removal, the association that represents 95,000 members across every industry said in a news release.

"The reintroduction of business restrictions to deal with the Omicron variant was a tough blow for struggling small businesses that set back recovery," Kelly said. Only 34 per cent of small businesses are making normal levels of sales, he said.

"And even lifting restrictions does not mean that customers will flood back to their local small firms. Until public health officials and governments can reassure consumers that it is safe to return to office work, shopping, dining, events and travel, the COVID economic hangover will continue for many parts of Canada's economy."

The poll, released Tuesday, comes as New Brunswick prepares to move to Level 1 of the COVID-19 winter plan, the least restrictive level, on Friday at 11:59 p.m.

Masks will still be mandatory in all indoor public places, as well as outdoor public places when physical distancing can't be maintained.

Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters Monday he hopes to further reduce restrictions "some time in March," but it will be based on Public Health recommendations.

Even if the province's emergency order ends in March, Higgs noted the masking mandate could continue under Public Health regulations.

The online poll was completed by more than 3,400 CFIB members Feb. 9-14.

"For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of ±1.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20," CFIB said. "Results obtained so far are preliminary."