N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 486 new cases, province braces for Omicron surge

The province's health system is bracing for a rapid climb in case counts and preparing for a worst-case "crisis" scenario.

Public Health reported another death, 486 new cases of COVID-19 — with new cases in every one of the seven zones — and five new hospitalizations on Wednesday, and projected that the Omicron variant would drive a surge in daily cases.

Regional health authorities and Ambulance New Brunswick are looking at further service reductions to ensure that essential services and emergency surgeries will remain available to all residents as the province deals with "the impact of the Omicron variant," Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said in a news release late Wednesday afternoon.

Shephard said CEOs of these organizations "will work collaboratively to support the health-care system during a crisis that could include staff shortages, service reductions and high rates of COVID-19."  

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell urged New Brunswickers to limit their contact with others as much as possible and to use rapid tests if they have a known exposure, even if they are asymptomatic.

Those who test positive using a rapid test must immediately isolate, book a PCR test, and notify close contacts that they have tested positive on a rapid test.

A backlog of nearly 2,500 test requests in the Saint John region, Zone 2, has prompted the province to divert more resources and extend hours at its assessment centre.

"The Canadian Red Cross is on site to assist," Public Health said in a news release late Wednesday.

"All priority groups, which include Public Health referrals, health-care workers and those who work or live in vulnerable settings ... are being scheduled within 48 hours," the release said.

Zones 1 and 3, the Moncton and Fredericton regions, are also seeing backlogs, with a backup of about 150 requests in the Moncton region and about 450 requests in the Fredericton region.

"All priority groups in these zones are being scheduled within 24 hours," Public Health said. "The next priorities are being booked for a test within 48 hours."

A person in their 90s has died in the Edmundston region, Zone 4, as a result of COVID-19, Public Health said Wednesday. This brings the province's COVID-19 death toll to 157.

There are 43 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Brunswick as of Wednesday, 17 of them in intensive care.

"This is five more hospitalizations than reported Tuesday," Public Health said in a news release.