N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 4 more deaths, record-high 123 hospitalizations
4 people 19 or under among those hospitalized with COVID, parents urged to get children vaccinated
Latest
- Province changes way it reports deaths
- Breakdown of cases
- Province 'very committed' to timeline to end Level 3, Higgs says
- 1st shipment of Pfizer pill 'like spitting on a house fire,' says Shephard
- 1,600 volunteers step up
- Vitalité also now offers KN95 masks
Four more New Brunswickers who had COVID-19 have died, marking 22 deaths in seven days, and COVID hospitalizations have jumped to a record high of 123, including four people 19 or under.
Although the deaths are all reported as COVID-related, the people didn't all necessarily die from the virus, according to a Department of Health spokesperson.
The province has changed the way it reports deaths, "due to increasing caseloads" and its "desire to be transparent," Bruce Macfarlane told CBC News.
"Public Health does not have enough time to determine whether cause of death is COVID-19 related prior to announcing the death publicly," he said in an emailed statement.
As a result, when a person with COVID-19 dies, they will be counted as a COVID-19 death, "unless there is a clear alternative cause of death, such as a car accident."
Macfarlane did not say when the new way of reporting deaths began, but on Monday Public Health changed the wording in its daily news releases to say, "people who had COVID-19 have died."
Until then, Public Health had been reporting that people died "as a result of COVID-19."
Macfarlane did not respond to questions about whose decision it was to group the deaths together, or whether they will each eventually be followed up on.
Eleven people are in intensive care, six of them are on ventilators.
A total of 342 health-care workers who have tested positive are off, isolating.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer, continues to urge those eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccines and booster dose.
That includes children, aged five to 11, who will soon be eligible to receive their second dose, once eight weeks have passed since their first dose.
"I want to remind parents that it is important for children to complete their full vaccine schedule so they have the best possible protection against COVID-19 and the highly transmissible Omicron variant," she said in a statement.
To date, 52.6 per cent of children in this age group have received their first dose, leaving about 25,000 children who have not.
"Ensuring as many children as possible are vaccinated is the best path forward to get kids back to in-person school and make it possible for them to participate in sports and activities," Russell said.
As of Wednesday, 57 per cent of New Brunswickers 50 and over have received a booster, and the number increases to 68 per cent among those 60 and over.
"As the Omicron variant continues to spread, we all need to take steps to protect ourselves," Russell said. "That includes getting a booster as soon as you are eligible.
"We know that people who are fully vaccinated and have a booster dose have better protection from serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19."
Of those in ICU, 55 per cent are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it has been more than six months since their second dose, Public Health said.
As of Wednesday, 33.7 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received a booster dose, up from 32.7 per cent, 83.5 per cent have received two doses, up from 83.4 per cent, and 91.3 per cent have received one dose, unchanged.
Breakdown of cases
The four COVID-related deaths reported Wednesday include a person 70 to 79 years old in the Moncton region, Zone 1, a person 60 to 69 in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, and two people in the Edmundston region, Zone 4 — one 70 to 79 and the other 90 or over.
Their deaths raise the COVID-related pandemic death toll to 196, the dashboard shows.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus increased by 10 from Tuesday, while the number of people in intensive care decreased by four.
The seven-day average for hospitalizations is 112, up from 107.9, while the seven-day average for ICU admissions is 12.6, up from 12.4, according to the dashboard.
Sixty-seven of the people hospitalized with COVID were admitted for other reasons when they tested positive.
Of those hospitalized, 98 are 60 or older.
There were 498 new COVID cases confirmed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing, putting the active caseload at 4,296. That figure doesn't include people testing positive on rapid tests.
An additional 805 people tested positive on rapid tests and registered their results online.
The regional breakdown of the PCR-confirmed cases reported includes:
- Moncton region, Zone 1 — 229 cases
- Saint John region, Zone 2 — 73 cases
- Fredericton region, Zone 3 — 56 cases
- Edmundston region Zone 4 — 40 cases
- Campbellton region, Zone 5 — 26 cases
- Bathurst region, Zone 6 — 44 cases
- Miramichi region, Zone 7 — 30 cases
A total of 662,339 PCR tests have been conducted to date, including 3,134 on Tuesday. That's a positivity rate of 15.9 per cent.
New Brunswick has had 24,001 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 19,507 recoveries so far.
Province 'very committed' to timeline to end Level 3, Higgs says
The New Brunswick government is "very committed" to its timeline of returning to Level 2 of the COVID-19 winter plan no later than Jan. 30 at 11:59 p.m., says Premier Blaine Higgs.
And it's asking New Brunswickers to "do everything they can" to make that happen, Higgs said in an emailed statement Tuesday.
He did not say whether the 16-day lockdown could be extended, based on Public Health's advice.
The province moved to Level 3, the most restrictive level of the COVID plan, last Friday at 11:59 p.m., to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and allow time for more people to get vaccinated or boosted against the virus.
Higgs announced the move the previous day, citing what was then a record-high 104 COVID hospitalizations and a hospital system in "crisis."
"We made a decision to follow Public Health's advice and move to Level 3 of the winter plan in order to mitigate the risks currently facing the provincial health-care system," Higgs said in the statement, noting the decision followed consultations with cabinet and the COVID cabinet committee.
"Our projections showed that if every citizen reduced their contacts by 30 per cent, New Brunswick could lower the forecasted peak of hospitalizations from 220 to about 150 by early February," he said.
"We are very committed to our timeline and returning to level two no later than January 30 at 11:59 PM and we are asking all New Brunswickers to do everything they can over these next [11] days to help us reach that goal."
As of Wednesday, 123 people are hospitalized with the virus, including 11 in intensive care. Six of them are on ventilators.
- Social gatherings are limited to single household bubbles.
- No public gatherings are permitted.
- Restaurants are limited to drive-thru, takeout and deliveries only.
- Non-essential retail remains at Level 2 restrictions, which include operating at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing measures in place.
- Gyms, salons, spas and entertainment centres are closed.
- Faith services are allowed only outdoors, virtually, or in-car.
- Organized team sports are prohibited from games, competition and practice with people outside of a household bubble.
In addition, at-home learning for public school students continues until Jan. 31.
1st shipment of Pfizer pill 'like spitting on a house fire,' says Shephard
New Brunswick is scheduled to receive its first shipment of Pfizer's new COVID-19 pill by this weekend, but at this point, Paxlovid is just another "tool in our toolbox" in the pandemic fight, says Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.
The antiviral treatment, approved Monday by Health Canada, is designed to treat adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to serious disease, including hospitalization or death.
It has been hailed by some doctors as a pandemic "game changer" that could relieve some of the pressure on the health-care system.
Shephard said New Brunswick has been allocated 700 treatment courses, which will be used for people 80 years or older and people who are immunocompromised "for the most part."
It's "a really good start," she told CBC's Power & Politics.
"But with the number of cases that are escalating, it's kind of like spitting on a house fire."
The province is "going to have to be prudent" about how it uses Paxlovid, said Shephard.
"We know with the small amounts that we're getting, and as the federal government ramps up their supply, which will take some time, this is a tool in our toolbox," she said.
"And the very best course of protection against COVID and variants is vaccinations, and we want to encourage everyone to continue to get their boosters."
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has said 30,000 treatment courses have already arrived in Canada and will be distributed to the provinces and territories on a per-capita basis.
Another 120,000 treatments will arrive between now and the end of March. The federal government is working with Pfizer to bring "additional treatment courses to Canada as quickly as possible," Duclos said.
New Brunswick will receive "larger quantities later this year," Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane has said, without elaborating.
The province's supply of Paxlovid is expected to be "very limited" during the winter months, he said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
Because of this, it will "only be provided to individuals who are among the Public Health priority groups for the time being."
Macfarlane did not immediately respond to a request for comment about exactly when and where the first shipment will arrive and where the drug will be available.
Other details, such as who will prescribe the pills, have not yet been released.
Paxlovid is intended for use as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of the start of symptoms, Health Canada said in a release Monday.
The treatment consists of two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir taken together by mouth twice per day for five days, it said.
Pfizer reported in November that Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 per cent compared to a placebo in non-hospitalized high-risk adults with COVID-19.
"The introduction of the antiviral is good news, but it is not going to make Omicron go away," said Macfarlane.
"The best defence against Omicron is vaccination, and we urge everyone to ensure they get their booster dose as soon as possible."
1,600 volunteers step up
In less than 24 hours, more than 1,600 New Brunswickers have responded to the government's "urgent" call for volunteers to help with the pandemic response.
"We are encouraged to see so many New Brunswickers step up and answer our call in one day," Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said in a statement Wednesday.
"Please pass along the word to neighbours, family members and friends to see if they can also give us a helping hand in this fight against the Omicron variant."
Denise Miller of the Kingston Peninsula is among those who signed up on Tuesday.
She doesn't have a medical background but says she's following the motto: If you can, do.
"If everybody would step up a little bit, even if they're not, you know, like in non-clinical roles, there's lots we can do," she said. "We can meet people at the door, we can make sure they have masks, it's communicating, you know, helping at the clinics. Just taking some of the weight off the people that have been carrying it all.
"I mean, we just sit here and we watch and we doom-scroll and we complain. Why not do something?"
The province is looking for clinical help with administering vaccinations and COVID-19 testing, patient services and personal support work.
It's also seeking non-clinical help, such as clerical support, office administration, logistical support, data entry, customer service, and food preparation and delivery.
Training, including health and safety measures and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), will be provided.
The volunteer positions are both paid and unpaid, depending on the work and the skill set, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard has said.
Miller, who works full time, says she offered to help in the evenings or whenever she can because "the situation's dire."
She has several friends who work in health care and they're "burnt out."
She doesn't expect to be paid, she said, and has experience in communications and event management.
"I can cook, I can clean — whatever they need."
People who are double vaccinated and boosted and interested in volunteering are asked to complete a new online form, posted Tuesday.
Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane described the number of people who have already signed up as "incredible."
"This is truly a reflection of New Brunswickers' willingness to help out in a crisis, to help their neighbours, their friends and families, and the population overall," he said.
Government officials, in partnership with the regional health authorities, will contact the people who have registered, he said. Priority will be given to people who can fill areas of highest need.
Vitalité also now offers KN95 masks
The Vitalité Health Network, like the Horizon Health Network, has started offering KN95 masks to members of the public who wish to receive one upon entry, spokesperson Thomas Lizotte confirmed Wednesday.
But unlike Horizon, Vitalité won't let people who wear their own N95 or KN95 mask leave them on.
"Patients and designated support persons who come to the network facilities will now have to choose between a medical mask or a KN95 mask," Lizotte said in an emailed statement. This also applies to all visitors, according to Vitalité's updated website.
"They will have to remove their mask and wear one provided by the network," he said.
Hand hygiene must be performed after taking off their mask/face covering, before putting on the medical/KN95 mask, and again after, the website states.
"The implementation of this new measure begins today and should be completed across the Network in the next coming days," Lizotte said.
The changes come as the COVID-19 Omicron variant continues to tear across New Brunswick, with record-high hospitalizations and new cases, including hundreds of health-care workers.
N95 and KN95 masks are respirators and considered the highest level of mask protection. They filter out more particles and provide a better fit, with fewer gaps for tiny airborne particles, or aerosol, to get through.
Horizon confirmed to CBC Tuesday its hospitals will now provide KN95 masks to members of the public who wish to receive one upon entry, and if people wear their own N95 or KN95 mask, they won't be required to change it.
Until now, Horizon has required people to remove whatever mask they were wearing and replace it with a hospital-issued non-medical mask.
Vitalité "continues its efforts to improve the quality and safety of service to patients," said Lizotte.
With files from Harry Forestell