Several key measurements for COVID-19 were down in New Brunswick last week, according to the most recent weekly report released by the province.
New COVID cases, weekly deaths, active cases, and hospitalizations were all down last week compared to the previous week.
The number of people in ICU, however, increased to five from three the previous week.
Although the numbers have stabilized in terms of hospital admissions, deaths and ICU admissions, Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell said the message remains the same — get vaccinated.
“We’ve now opened it up for the under-five age group. … So we really want all those children who are eligible to get vaccinated and certainly coming into the school season in September, it would be ideal to have that protection as soon as possible.”
Russell said it’s too early in the campaign to gauge the response to the government’s message, but she expects a clearer picture later this week.
Russell isn’t sure what can be said to get the final adult holdouts to change their minds.
“All I can say is that those people who are vaccinated have a much higher level of protection from being hospitalized, from having very severe outcomes, and from being admitted to ICU and succumbing to COVID.”
According to the province’s most recent weekly COVID-19 report, which was released Wednesday afternoon, those who are unprotected by vaccine continue to have the highest rate of hospitalization for COVID-19 and ICU admissions.
For example, the rate per 100,000 for ICU patients since Dec. 5, 2021, is double for unprotected patients, compared with those who are considered protected.
The report also said 747 new cases were reported between July 24 and July 30. That was down from 938 the previous week.
Four people died last week, bringing the total number of deaths to 447. Five people died the week before.
The number of hospital admissions for COVID-19 last week was down one — 39 compared to 40 the week before — and the highest portion of hospitalizations for COVID-19 is among individuals between the ages of 70 and 89.
The report also includes a breakdown of the most recent random sample of Omicron subvariants:
- 0 per cent of samples are BA.1
- 9 per cent of samples are BA.2
- 0 per cent of samples are BA.3
- 12 per cent of samples are BA.4
- 79 per cent of samples are BA.5
Russell isn’t surprised about the breakdown of the Omicron subvariants — each one more transmissible than the one that came before.
She said it makes sense that BA.5 has quickly outpaced all its predecessors.
Renous prison cases
The Correctional Service of Canada confirmed Wednesday that 17 inmates at Atlantic Institution in Renous have tested positive for COVID-19.
A news release said officials are “closely monitoring the situation, and measures are in place to minimize spread of the virus within the institution.
“COVID-19 testing is being offered to inmates and staff.”
According to the release, the positive cases are based on either rapid tests or PCR tests and that the number of cases “may change as more testing is conducted and laboratory-confirmed results are available.”
“This is an evolving situation and we continue to apply and reinforce infection prevention and control measures to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19.”
The correctional service said staff are provided medical masks, respirators, and face shields, and inmates are provided medical masks “and are encouraged to wear them at all times when not in their cells.”
Since January 2021, all offenders, including new admissions, have been offered a vaccine, and boosters are also provided.
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