New Brunswick reported 109 new cases of COVID-19 and 54 recoveries Tuesday.
The province’s top doctor, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said of the new cases, 72 – or 66 per cent – are unvaccinated, five – or five per cent – are partially vaccinated, and 32 – or 29 per cent – are fully vaccinated.
There are 63 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 27 in an intensive care unit. There is one person under the age of 19 currently hospitalized.
Of those in hospital, 48 are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and 11 are fully vaccinated. Of the 27 in an intensive case unit, 19 are unvaccinated, three are partially vaccinated and five are fully vaccinated.
“Vaccines are effective, but not perfect,” she said at a COVID-19 briefing and added that vaccines can prevent serious illness and death.
According to the province, the number of active cases is 1,092. The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the province is 75.
Russell said there are 63 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 27 in an intensive care unit.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, who was also at the briefing, said that over the Thanksgiving weekend police officers responded to 28 calls for complaints over COVID rules and completed more than 600 inspections.
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Almost all were in compliance, except one in Moncton where a ticket was issued.
Shephard also noted that 62 of 63 faith venues were in compliance as well, with the lone exception being His Tabernacle Family Church in Saint John.
Rising COVID 19 numbers are also prompting hospitals in New Brunswick to move to the Red Alert level and postponing some non-urgent procedures.
Hospitals of the Vitalité Health Network moved to the Red Alert level Tuesday, although the Campbellton Regional Hospital imposed the measures last week to address an in-hospital outbreak.
Hospitals in the Horizon Health Network will do the same Wednesday, and the measures will be in place for at least two weeks.
Horizon CEO Dr. John Dornan says the protocols allow for the redeployment of staff to maintain emergency and intensive care services.
Visits are also temporarily cancelled in all hospitals in the province.
Shephard said Tuesday she appreciated the frustration among people whose surgeries have been postponed. “The health networks are taking these steps because they are necessary to get the situation under control as quickly as possible,” she told reporters.
Shephard said it’s projected there would be a six per cent rise in hospitalizations over the next week, adding that the projections would be much higher had the government not imposed new health orders. Last week, the government introduced what it called “circuit-breaker” restrictions in parts of the province, including Moncton, such as a ban on private indoor gatherings.
Meanwhile, Green MLA Megan Mitton called Tuesday for a formal independent investigation into a COVID-19 outbreak at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville, N.B. Mitton said there have been eight deaths while 29 residents and 10 staff have tested positive.
Shephard said it has been a difficult time at that nursing home, noting that while she’s not sure what answers Mitton is looking for, she’s willing to take any questions under advisement. The minister said the government hasn’t been shy about investigating every outbreak that has occurred at long-term care facilities.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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