COVID-19 kills 6 more in N.B., while hospital admissions, new cases decrease

Six more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19, the province announced Tuesday, while hospital admissions because of the virus, the number of new cases and the positivity rateall decreased in the past week.

All of the people who died were aged 70 or older, a comparison of data in the latest COVIDWatch report to last week's report reveals.

None of the deaths occurred during the reporting week in question,March 26 to April 1.Four occurred earlier in March and two in January, according to the report.

Deaths are subject to an average two-month lag in reporting, from date of death to the registration of death, the report says.

The latest deaths raise the province's pandemic death toll to868.

9 admitted to hospital, 2 in ICU

Nine people were newly admitted to hospital because of COVID, down from 15 in last week's report. Two people require intensive care, up from none.

Among the new admissions is one person under 20,the youngest age category provided in the report. The others include oneperson aged 20 to 59, one aged 60 to 69 and six aged 70 or older.

The province no longer provides the number of people currently hospitalized, but the two regional health authorities say they have 30 people in hospital either for or with COVID, down from 49 a week ago. Three arein intensive care, unchanged.

Horizon has 21 of the patients, including two in intensive care, as of Saturday, its COVID dashboard shows, while Vitalit has the other nine, including one in intensive care, according to its weekly COVID update.

The regional breakdownof thehospitalizationsincludes:

• Moncton region, Zone 1 eight (Horizon, five,Vitalit, three).
• Saint John region, Zone 2 eight.
• Fredericton region, Zone 3 eight.
• Edmundston region, Zone 4 two.
• Campbellton region, Zone 5 one.
• Bathurst region, Zone 6 three.

The number of health-care workers off the job after testing positive for COVID-19 has increased more than 54 per cent to 54, from 35 a week ago.

Horizon has 39 positive staff (up from 24), and Vitalit has 15 (up from 11).

There are COVID-19 outbreaks on two Horizon hospital units one in the Moncton region and the other in the Saint John region. No other details are provided.Vitalithas not updated its outbreak page. It still shows none, as of March 27.

16.3% positivity rate

A total of 155 new cases have been confirmed through948 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests in the past week, for a positivity rate of16.3 per cent.

A high test-positivity rate indicates a high level of community transmission.

Last week, thepositivity rate was 16.6 per cent, and the previous week, 21.7 per cent.

New restrictions on PCRtesting took effect Saturday.New Brunswickers who have COVID symptomscan no longer self-refer for a PCRtest, which is considered thegold standard for diagnosis.

PCR tests are now only available to people with symptoms for whom "the outcome of PCR testing will directly influence treatment or care" and theyrequirea referralfrom a health-care provider, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner.

An additional 75people self-reported testing positive on a rapid test, according to figures from the Department of Health, down from141.

Of the 68 random positive PCR samples sent for genetic sequencing, 69 per cent were XBB,an offshoot ofthe Omicron BA.2 subvariant.

COVIDWatch does not indicate how many of those were cases ofXBB.1.5, which has been described as immune evasive and"the most transmissible" subvariantyet.

The breakdown of the other sequenced cases includes 28 per cent Omicron subvariant BA. 5, and threeper cent Omicron subvariant BA.2.

Vaccination rates at standstill

COVID-19 vaccination rates remain unchanged after only 285 people across the province rolled up their sleeves for a shot in the past week, according to figures from the Department of Health.

The rates are:

• First dose 91.1 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers.
• Second dose 85.9 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers.
• First booster 54.8 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers.
• Second booster 30.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers.

On Monday, the department announced spring COVID-19 vaccine boosters are nowavailable to thoseconsideredat highest risk for severe illness, if at least five months have passed since their last vaccine dose or COVID infection.

Those eligible include:

• People aged 65 and over, especially if unsure whether they've already been infected.
• People aged 18 and over who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
• Peopleliving in long-term care facilities.

Data suggests more than209,000 people areeligible for these spring boosters, said department spokespersonSean Hatchard. That includes177,400 people aged 65 or older, 19,040 people aged 18 to 64 who are considered high risk, and 12,735 people living in long-term care settings, he said.

Other New Brunswickers aged five or olderwho received a fall booster dose are considered up to date, and no further doses are recommended at this time,according to the department.

No word on exceptions for spring boosters

CBCNewsasked Monday whetherany exceptions will be made for people who don't qualify for a spring booster but live with, or have regular contact withhigh-risk people, such as spouses, extended family members andhome care workers. On Tuesday afternoon, Hatchard did not answer directly.

"Public Health encourages everyone who meets the eligibility criteria to receive a spring booster and for those who haven't had a fall booster to get theirs now," he said in an emailed statement.

"We encourage everyone to prevent the risk of infection by using protective methods such as limiting or avoiding contact with others who have symptoms, staying home when sick, regular hand washing, and covering their nose and mouth with their elbow when coughing."

CBCrequested an interview with Dr. Jennifer Russell, thechief medical officer of health, but Hatchard said she wasn't available.

1 in 24 infected, says researcher

An estimated one in 24 New Brunswickersis currently infected with COVID-19, according toan infectious diseases researcher and co-founder of COVID-19 Resources Canada.

That's up from one in 49 about a month ago.

New Brunswick has the third highest COVID hazard index in the country for the week ending April 8, at 11.1, or severe, says TaraMoriarty. The national average is10.5.

The six-level hazard index is calculated based on several variables, such as COVID-19 wastewater data, test positivity rates, hospitalizations, intensive care unitadmissions and deaths, Moriarty,anassociate professor at the University of Toronto, has said.

"COVID is currently the #3 cause of hospitalizations and death" in New Brunswick, she posted on social media.

Hospitalizations and deaths because of COVID are nearly eight times higher than the lowest point in the pandemic, around early June2021, says Moriarty, while infections according to wastewater levels and estimated long COVID cases are nearly 18 times higher.

The Department of Health spokesperson declined to commenton the hazard index Tuesday, saying staff are still waiting for one of the creators to respond to questions posed in September, includinghow the index was created, and the data and methodologies used.

According to the latest figures on Health Canada's website, New Brunswick was tied with Saskatchewan for the highest COVID-19 death rate in the country for the week ending March 25, at 0.7 per 100,000 population. The national average was 0.3.

For rate of COVID cases for the same week, New Brunswick ranked third among the provinces at 26 per 100,000, after P.E.I., at70, and Quebec, at 30, the data, updated Monday, shows. The national average was 20.

"Even if you have had COVID previously, it is still important to avoid getting infected again to reduce your risk of long COVID," Moriarty tweeted.

Only B.C. and Ontario are ranked higher than New Brunswick on the hazard index,at 16.2 and 13.5, respectively,the group's website shows.

The ratings of the other Atlantic provinces include:Nova Scotia, 7.0, Newfoundland and Labrador,6.9, and P.E.I., 6.0.

New Brunswick was previously rated the worst in the country. For the week endingMarch 4, the province's hazard index was 9.2, compared to thenational average of 6.4.