COVID-19 hospitalizations spike in N.L., with 4 new deaths

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting four newCOVID-19 deaths and a spike in hospitalizations inthe provincial Health Department's weekly update.

Hospitalizations have risen to 14, up 11 from last week, with three people in critical care. There are sixhospitalizations each inthe Eastern and Western Health regions and two in the Central Health area.

At a briefing last week, provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said she expected an increase in hospitalizations as Omicron subvariant BA.5 variant circulates around the globe.

One of the deaths in the past week was in the Eastern Health region, two were inthe Central Health region and one was inthe Western Health area. Three of the people who died were 80 years old or older, while the other person was in their 60s. The deaths raise the province's total to 202 since March 2020, with eight reported so far in July.

The province is also reporting 443new COVID-19 cases in the past seven days: 62on Thursday, 59 on Friday, 76 on Saturday, 38on Sunday, 42 on Monday, 60on Tuesday and 106 on Wednesday.

The province'snumbers don't represent the true spread of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador, though, since the Health Department restricts PCR testing done by health authorities and the daily case countsdon't include people testing positive on rapid tests they perform themselves.

Starting Wednesday,people 50 and older in the province can get a second COVID-19 booster shot. Residents of long-term care or congregate living facilitiesand people who identify as Indigenous or who live in remote or rural communities are also eligible.

Read morefrom CBC Newfoundland and Labrador