A total of 1,025 new cases of COVID-19 were reported last week, up from 828 in the previous report. Omicron subtype BA.2 remains the dominant strain, accounting for 55 percent of the most recent random sequence samples for COVID-19, while the original Omicron BA.1 variant is no longer detected, the report shows. But Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 are rapidly gaining ground, accounting for 27 percent and 18 percent of samples, respectively, or 45 percent together. Modeling experts at CBC News spoke to estimate that the BA.4 and BA.5 incidence rates across Canada could reach 50 percent – with one of them likely to become prevalent in the coming weeks. “We do not see a huge difference in severity. It really has to do with contagion,” said Dr Jennifer Russell, the county’s chief medical officer. Each dominant strain seems to be more contagious than the last, he said. Dr Jennifer Russell, the county’s chief medical officer, continued to stress on Tuesday the importance of eligible people being informed about their COVID-19 vaccinations. (Ed Hunter / CBC) “We know that at the national level, they are considering the risk a [new] wave in early autumn or mid-autumn. And so all people who have not taken second or third installments or fourth installments that are eligible should really take them. “ People aged 60 to 79 are at the highest risk of hospitalization, so it is “more important” for these people to get their fourth dose, Russell said. The timing of human next doses could be more important than ever, with highly contagious subtypes increasing and decreasing immunity to previous vaccinations and infection. “The longer you wait to get the vaccine, the more recent it is and the stronger it is when the next wave occurs,” said Sarah Otto, a modeling and evolutionary biologist at the University of British Columbia. Asked about her thoughts on waiting during the summer, when transmission risks tend to be lower because people are more out and out, Russell said that if people are vaccinated too early, then there may be some reduction. But if people are vaccinated too late, then “you will not catch the top … in terms of trying to reduce hospital admissions.” Each province will have to make its own decision based on its situation, he said. “We will be following our situation very, very closely here in New Brunswick. And we are very concerned, again, to try to make sure we are timing it as best we can with the knowledge we have today.” A total of 52.8 percent of eligible New Brunswickers have now taken a booster dose of COVID-19, up from 52.7 percent in last week’s report, 88.2 percent have taken two doses, up from 88.1 percent and 93.3 percent have taken a dose, unchanged.
Cases up, but tests down
Of the 1,025 new cases of COVID-19 reported between June 19 and June 25, 484 were confirmed by laboratory PCR tests (out of 425) and 541 were reported alone by individuals who tested positive (out of 403). The increase in PCR-confirmed cases follows a decrease over an eight-week period, according to the report. It is too early to say if this is a trend, Russell said. “It could be a blow. We will not know until you see consecutive weeks,” he said. “We are watching it very closely.” The number of PCR tests performed during this period, meanwhile, dropped to 3,755 from 4,004, Tuesday’s report shows. This puts the positivity rate at 12.9 percent, up from 10.6 percent for June 12-18. There are now 657 active cases confirmed by PCR across the province, compared with 618 a week ago. The county limits PCR testing to some people at higher risk, including those with symptoms over the age of 50 or under, those living or working in a hospital or long-term care unit, and those in “precarious housing” , who are immunosuppressed and those who are pregnant. People need to make an appointment at an assessment center and it can take up to four days to get their results, according to the COVID-19 provincial website. Horizon reports an 83 percent drop in the number of rapid test kit delivery appointments between January and June 24th. (Alexandre Silberman / CBC News) The number of appointments made to receive a rapid test kit fell by 56 percent last month on the Horizon Health Network, according to data provided by Kris McDavid. A total of 4,063 appointments have been made by June 24, he said. This is lower than 9,278 in May. The number has dropped even more dramatically since April and March, when about 25,000 appointments were made each month (24,765 and 25,061). Earlier in the year, the numbers were 17,394 (February) and 24,170 (January). Access to rapid examinations is also restricted to people with symptoms and they must make an online appointment to receive a free rapid examination kit at one of the Horizon or Vitalité assessment centers.
Death control is ongoing
Recent COVID-19 deaths in New Brunswick include one in their 70s and two in their 90s. No New Brunswickers died from COVID-19 during the previous reporting period, June 12-18, marking the first time in more than seven months that no new COVID-19 deaths have been reported. The last period from Sunday to Saturday, without any deaths, was November 7-13, 2021. New Brunswick has now recorded 425 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. The county is reviewing all death certificates during this period, and the number of deaths attributed to COVID may change, Russell said. No updates have been available since Tuesday, he said.
31 patients with COVID in hospital
The number of people recently admitted to hospital for COVID-19 dropped to six between June 19 and June 25, compared with 17 last 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 also dropped to 15 from 25, including one in the intensive care unit, from three, according to the province. Health networks Horizon and Vitalité also report a reduction, but say they have 31 COVID patients since Saturday, including one in need of intensive care. This is lower than 46 and three respectively last week. In contrast to the province, which includes only patients admitted for COVID, Horizon and Vitalité also include those who were initially admitted for another reason and later tested positive for the virus in the weekly updates of the COVID control panel. The number of people currently being treated for COVID-19 has dropped from 10 last week to 15, one of whom needs intensive care, according to the COVIDWatch report released Tuesday by the New Brunswick government. (New Brunswick Government) Horizon Health Network has 24 active COVID-19 imports, including one in intensive care, since Saturday. This is lower than 35 and two respectively a week ago. The distribution of cases includes:
Moncton District, Zone 1 – four. Saint John District, Zone 2 – 10. Fredericton District, Zone 3 – eight. Miramichi District, Zone 7 – two.
There are no details about the hospitals provided in the scoreboard report. Vitalité has seven COVID-19 patients being treated and none of them are in the intensive care unit. Last week’s control panel showed 11 patients, including one in intensive care. The University Hospital Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont in Moncton, Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst and Tracadie Hospital each have one patient, while Edmundston Regional Hospital and Campbellton Regional Hospital each have two, the dashboard shows.
Staffing, foci, completeness
The number of healthcare workers leaving their jobs either after testing positive for COVID-19 or coming into contact with a positive case continues to rise to 118. This is from 94 a week ago and 84 last week. Horizon has 57 staff absences, up from 48, and Vitalité has 61, up from 46 last week. Horizon still has COVID-19 cases in four hospital units – one in Moncton Zone 1 and three in Saint John Zone 2. Vitalité does not have COVID hotspots, according to its control panel. Two Horizon hospitals now have 100% capacity, said McDavid – Saint John Regional Hospital and Miramichi Regional Hospital. Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville has 98 percent full beds, Moncton Hospital (96 percent) and Dr. Regional Hospital. Everett Chalmers in Fredericton (93 percent). Vitalité has five hospitals listed as having the largest capacity:
Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent – 120 percent. Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin – 117 percent. Tracadie Hospital – 102 percent. Enfant-Jésus RHSJ Hospital in Caraquet – 100 percent. Lameque Hospital – 100 percent.
The full bed size of Vitalité’s other hospitals includes:
Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst – 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 had 67,725 confirmed COVID cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 66,643 cases still considered resolved.
