New Brunswick is reporting a slight dip in active COVID-19 hospitalizations on a week-over-week basis.
But data from the province’s two regional health authorities (RHAs) show an increase from this time last week.
The latest weekly COVID report from the Department of Health shows 32 people in the hospital as of Aug. 6, down one from the week before.
According to the report, three of those patients are being treated in one of the province’s intensive care units.
There were 20 people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 last week compared to 39 the week before. Three people were admitted to an ICU compared to four the week before.
People between the ages of 70 and 89 account for the highest portion of hospitalizations, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the two regional health authorities reported 132 people in the hospital as of Aug. 6 (up from 127 a week earlier) and three in intensive care (down from five).
Horizon Health: 75 active admissions and one in intensive care, compared to 77 active admissions and three in intensive care one week ago.
Vitalité Health: 57 active admissions and two in intensive care, compared to 50 active admissions and two in intensive care one week ago.
Unlike the provincial data, which only accounts for those who are admitted to hospital with COVID-19, RHAs also include the number of patients who are initially admitted for another reason and later test positive for the virus.
Moncton region remains hotspot for new cases
A total of 1,377 positive cases were reported over the past week, including 742 PCR tests and 635 rapid tests. That was down from 1,582 reported positive cases the previous week.
The Moncton health region, Zone 1, continues to be the hotspot with 508 new cases, accounting for nearly 37 per cent of last week’s total case count.
The Fredericton health region (Zone 3) recorded about 20 per cent of the new cases while the Saint John health region (Zone 2) recorded nearly 17 per cent of the new cases.
Amongst the most recent random samples sequenced, 11 per cent were the BA.2 variant, six per cent were BA.4, and 83 per cent were BA.5.
Four more deaths reported
New Brunswick reported four more deaths related to COVID-19 over the past week.
The latest deaths, according to the provincial report, include one person in their 60s, one person in their 80s, and two people aged 90 and older.
There have been 451 deaths attributed to the virus in New Brunswick since the pandemic began.
Just over 800 vaccine doses given
In terms of vaccinations, the Department of Health says 812 doses were given out over the past week, including 290 first doses, 129 second doses, and 393 booster doses.
Just over 88 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received two doses and 53 per cent have received booster shots.
According to the two health authorities, 204 health care workers were off the job as of Saturday for COVID-related reasons, up from 193 a week earlier.
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