N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 2 deaths, 133 new cases as new restrictions begin

New Brunswick announced two more deaths related to COVID-19 on Saturday and 133 new cases of the virus.

Two people in the Miramichi region have died, including one person aged 60 to 69 and another between 80 and 89, the province said in a release. 

The new cases are spread across all seven health regions and bring the total number of active cases in New Brunswick  to of 1,232. There are 154 people reported as recovered from the virus. 

This comes as interim COVID-19 measures to slow the spread of the Omicron variant came into effect on Saturday.

The measures include limiting contacts to a steady group of 20, the reinstatement of physical distancing in public spaces indoors, and reduced capacity at venues like movie theatres, sporting arenas and casinos. 

There were no new cases of Omicron reported in the province Saturday.

Forty people are in hospital in New Brunswick with COVID-19, a decrease of five. There are 13 people in intensive care, down one.

There are seven people requiring ventilators, which is unchanged from the last update.

"Six of the 40 people hospitalized were initially admitted for other reasons and contracted COVID-19 due to outbreaks at hospitals in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton and Miramichi," Public Health said in a release. "Most of these people are exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms.

"The rate of people hospitalized and in ICU, as well as new cases, continues to most greatly impact people who are unvaccinated. "

No one in hospital is under the age of 19. 

A total of 82.6 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID, up from 82.5 per cent, and 89.3 per cent have received their first dose, up from 89.1 per cent.

The update shows 12.8 per cent of those eligible have received a booster dose, up from 11.9 per cent.

Among children aged five to 11 years old, 35.5 per cent have received their first dose, up from 34.2 per cent.