N.B. records 4 more COVID-19 deaths, watches for possible new wave

Four more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19 in the past week, hospitalizations because of the virus have increased, and the number of new positive cases has nearly doubled, figures released by the province Tuesday show.

More increases are likely, including the possibility of a new wave, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health.

"That's what it's looking like, but we're still analyzing the data," she said, noting B.C. and Ottawa both recently announced they're experiencing new waves.

"I think over the course of the next week, we will be able to determine here if that's the case." The province does not have any modelling, she said.

"In the meantime, the messaging really is about whatever dose you're eligible for, get it."

Asked whether New Brunswick is considering making COVID-19 shots widely available in the fall, given the recommendations from the federal advisory body last week, Russell could not say.

"I don't have the information on what's coming in terms of that plan, but we're definitely having discussions about —  all provinces are having discussions about what should be happening now and what should be happening in the fall."

People at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19 infection, including those aged 65 and older, should be offered a booster shot this fall, regardless of how many boosters they've previously received, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said. Everyone else — age 12 to 64 — "may be offered" the additional doses in the fall, NACI said.

The latest deaths include four people in their 80s — two from the Moncton region, Zone 1, one from the Saint John region, Zone 2, and one from the Campbellton region, Zone 5, according to the COVIDWatch report.

New Brunswick has now recorded 429 COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

The number of people newly admitted to hospital for COVID-19 jumped to 22 between June 26 and July 2, compared to six the previous week.

A child under 10 is among the new admissions. The others include one person in their 40s, four people in their 50s, three in their 60s, four in their 70s, eight in their 80s and one in their 90s.

The number of people currently in hospital because of COVID increased to 19 from 15, including one who requires intensive care, according to the province.

Horizon and Vitalité health networks, meanwhile, also reported an increase in the number of active hospitalizations, saying they had 50 COVID patients as of Saturday, four of whom required intensive care, compared to 31 and one respectively a week earlier.