N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Case counts likely higher than reported, says health minister

COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick are likely higher than the numbers being reported, says Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.

She made the comments Tuesday morning, after the province hit a new single-day record-high of 922 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

Last Friday, the province announced contact tracing among the general public is "no longer feasible," given the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Instead, people who test positive are being asked to notify their close contacts.

In addition, starting at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the province will limit PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests to certain groups, while everyone else will have to rely on at-home rapid tests and self-report positive results.

"Really, we have to begin to consider that Omicron is everywhere because it transmits so quickly," said Shephard. "We know that our cases double every two to three days."

"I believe that, you know, realistically, there are going to be people who are asymptomatic. I believe that our case counts are probably higher than we're able to report." 

Shephard said she expected a "significant" number of new cases again on Tuesday.

She doesn't expect the number to be as high as Monday, based on the data she had seen as of early Tuesday morning, but cautioned additional data could be pending.

The province could see 1,000 new cases a day by mid- to late this week, she has said.

PCR tests will be reserved for:

For everyone else, a positive rapid test will be treated as a positive result for COVID-19, and people will be asked to register their result through a new form that will be available online this week, Public Health has said.

These changes are expected to increase the demand for rapid-test kits.

"We certainly need more," said Shephard.

The free test kits have been in short supply in the province in recent weeks as COVID case number have risen.