COVID-19 claimed three more lives in New Brunswick in the past week, hospitalizations due to the virus continue to decline as the number of new laboratory-confirmed cases rises after a two-month decline, according to Tuesday’s COVIDWatch report, which for the first time includes species variants in the province .
A total of 1,025 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the last week, up from 828 in the previous report.
The Omicron BA.2 subvariant remains the dominant strain, accounting for 55% of the most recent random samples sequenced for COVID-19, while the original Omicron BA.1 variant is no longer detectable, the report shows. But Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 are rapidly gaining popularity, accounting for 27% and 18% of the samples, respectively, or 45% taken together.
Modeling experts at CBC News have estimated that the share of BA.4 and BA.5 cases in Canada could reach 50 percent – one of which is likely to become dominant in the coming weeks.
“We do not see a huge difference in weight. It’s actually a transmission, “said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical officer.
Each strain it takes appears to be more transmissible than the last, she said.
Dr Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief health doctor, went on to stress on Tuesday the importance of eligible people being aware of their COVID-19 vaccinations. (Ed Hunter / CBC)
“We know that at the national level they look at the risk of [new] wool in early autumn or mid-autumn. So all people who have not taken a second dose or a third dose or a fourth dose that qualifies should really get them. “
People between the ages of 60 and 79 are at the highest risk of hospitalization, so it is “most important” that these people receive their fourth dose, Russell said.
The timing of subsequent human doses may be more important than ever, as highly contagious sub-variants increase and decrease immunity from previous vaccination and infection. “The longer you wait to get the vaccine, the newer it is and the more powerful it is when the next wave occurs,” said Sarah Otto, an expert in modeling and evolutionary biology at the University of British Columbia.
Asked about her thoughts on postponing the summer, when the risks of transmission tend to be lower because people are outdoors and distant, Russell said that if people get vaccinated too early, then there may be some reduction. But if people get vaccinated too late, then “you won’t catch the peak … in terms of trying to reduce hospital admissions.”
Each province will have to make its own decision based on the situation, she said.
“We will be watching very, very closely our situation here in New Brunswick. And again, we are very concerned about … trying to make sure we rely as best we can on the knowledge we have today. ”
A total of 52.8% of eligible New Brunswickers have already received their booster dose of COVID-19, compared to 52.7% in last week’s report, 88.2% have received two doses, compared with 88, 1% and 93.3% received one dose unchanged.
The cases are increasing, but the tests are decreasing
Of the 1,025 new cases of COVID-19 reported between June 19 and June 25, 484 were confirmed by PCR laboratory tests (out of 425) and 541 were reported alone by people who tested positive in rapid tests (out of 403).
The increase in PCR-confirmed cases follows a decline over a period of eight weeks, according to the report.
It is too early to say whether this is a trend, Russell said.
“It could be a mistake. We won’t find out until you see consecutive weeks in a row, “she said. “We’re watching him really closely.”
The number of PCR tests performed during this period has meanwhile dropped to 3,755 from 4,004, the report said on Tuesday.
This makes the percentage of positivity at 12.9% compared to 10.6% for June 12-18.
There are now 657 active PCR-confirmed cases across the province, up from 618 a week ago.
The province limits PCR tests to certain people who are considered to be at higher risk, including those with symptoms that are over 50 or under two years old, those who live or work in a hospital or long-term care facility, those who are ” insecurely placed “, those with weakened immunity and those who are pregnant.
People have to make an appointment at an assessment center and it can take up to four days to get their results, according to the province’s COVID-19 website.
Horizon reported an 83% drop in the number of meetings to receive quick test kits between January and June 24. (Alexandre Silberman / CBC News)
The number of appointments for receiving quick test kits has dropped by 56% in the last month within the Horizon Health Network, according to data provided by spokesman Chris McDavid.
A total of 4,063 meetings are scheduled for June 24, he said. That’s less than 9,278 in May.
The number has dropped even more dramatically since April and March, when about 25,000 meetings were booked each month (24,765 and 25,061).
Earlier in the year, the number was 17,394 (February) and 24,170 (January).
Access to rapid tests is also restricted to people with symptoms, and they must book an appointment online to get a free rapid test kit at one of the Horizon or Vitalité assessment centers.
The deaths are being investigated
The latest deaths from COVID-19 in New Brunswick involved one person in the 70s and two in the 90s.
In the previous reporting period, June 12-18, there were no deaths from COVID-19 from New Brunswickers, which is the first time in more than seven months that no new deaths have been reported from COVID. The last period from Sunday to Saturday without reported deaths was November 7-13, 2021.
New Brunswick has already registered 425 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The province is reviewing all deaths during this period, and the number of deaths attributed to COVID could change, Russell said. No update is available from Tuesday, she said.
31 patients with COVID in hospital
The number of new hospital admissions for COVID-19 fell to six between June 19 and June 25, compared with 17 in the previous week, weekly data show. They include three people in their 60s, two in their 70s and one in their 80s.
The number of active hospitalizations has also dropped to 15 out of 25, including one in intensive care, out of three, according to the province.
Health networks Horizon and Vitalité are also declining, but say they have 31 patients with COVID as of Saturday, including one in need of intensive care. That’s less than 46 and three, respectively, last week.
Unlike the province, which includes only patients admitted to COVID, Horizon and Vitalité also include those who were initially admitted for another reason and later tested positive for the virus in their weekly updates to the COVID dashboard. .
The number of people currently in hospital due to COVID-19 has dropped by 10 in the past week to 15, one of which requires intensive care, according to a COVIDWatch report released Tuesday by the New Brunswick government. (Government of New Brunswick)
Horizon Health Network has 24 active intakes for COVID-19, including one in intensive care, as of Saturday. That’s less than 35 and two weeks ago, respectively.
The distribution of cases includes:
- Moncton Region, Zone 1 – Four.
- St. John’s Region, Zone 2-10.
- Fredericton Region, Zone 3 – Eight.
- Miramichi area, Zone 7 – two.
There are no details on which hospitals are provided in the scoreboard report.
Vitalité has seven patients with COVID-19 hospitalized and none of them is in intensive care. Last week’s dashboard showed 11 patients, including one in intensive care.
Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Center in Moncton, Charler Regional Hospital in Bathurst and Trakedy Hospital each have one patient, while Edmundston Regional Hospital and Campbellton Regional Hospital have two each, the scoreboard shows.
Staff, hearths, employment
The number of health workers who quit their jobs after testing positive for COVID-19 or coming into contact with a positive case continues to rise to 118. This is an increase of 94 a week ago and 84 the previous week.
Horizon has 57 absences, compared to 48, and Vitalité has 61, up from 46 last week.
Horizon still has COVID-19 outbreaks in four hospital wards, one in the Moncton area, Zone 1, and three in the St. John’s Zone 2 area.
Vitalité has no units with COVID outbreaks, according to its dashboard.
Two Horizon hospitals are now at 100 percent capacity, said McDavid, St. John’s Regional Hospital and Miramichi Regional Hospital.
Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville has 98 percent bed occupancy, Moncton Hospital (96 percent) and Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton (93 percent).
Vitalité has five hospitals listed as with or above capacity:
- Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent – 120 percent.
- Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin – 117 percent.
- Trakadie Hospital – 102 percent.
- Enfant-Jésus RHSJ Hospital in Karaket – 100 percent.
- Lamec Hospital – 100 percent.
The occupancy of beds in other Vitalité hospitals includes:
- Bathurst Chaleur Regional Hospital – 98 percent.
- Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Center in Moncton – 95 percent.
- Grand Falls General Hospital – 90 percent.
- Campbellton Regional Hospital – 85 percent.
- Edmundston Regional Hospital – 84 percent.
New Brunswick has 67,725 confirmed COVID cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 66,643 cases considered resolved so far.
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