N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 70 cases reported on Thursday
CBC
Public Health reported 70 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of active cases in New Brunswick to 580.
Of the new cases, 45 — or 64 per cent — are unvaccinated.
There are 18 people in hospital, with 11 of those in intensive care. Of the 18 people hospitalized because of COVID-19, 14 are unvaccinated, Public Health said in a news release.
The rate of new vaccinations has slowed recently, with 86.3 per cent of New Brunswickers now fully vaccinated and 93 per cent having received their first dose.
Circuit-breaker measures are set to end for the Saint John region (Zone 2) as of Friday at 6 p.m.
The measures have been extended for another week for Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview. Other regions in Zone 1 will have the measures lifted on Friday.
The Miramichi region (Zone 7) will begin circuit-breaker measures starting Friday at 6 p.m., with the exception of Black River Bridge and communities to the east, Murray Settlement and areas south, and New Jersey and communities north.
Public Health announced that enforcement will be increased to ensure those who are supposed to be isolating are doing so.
"The issue in Greater Moncton has been people not properly self-isolating," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell. "Transmission in households is where we're seeing more than half of the new cases in the area."
The province is now encouraging New Brunswickers to call or email if they witness violations of public health measures.
The 70 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across six of the seven health regions. The new cases break down in this way:
Moncton region, Zone 1, 21 cases:
Eighteen cases are under investigation and three cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.
Saint John region, Zone 2, 22 cases: