The number of COVID-19 and influenza hospitalizations has ticked up in New Brunswick, according to Public Health.
The latest Respiratory Watch report showed 42 hospitalizations between Feb. 4 and 10, compared to 34 the previous week. The number of new admissions to an intensive care unit remained stable at five.
Public Health reported two deaths involving COVID during the most recent week, both involving people aged 65 and over.
There were four deaths the previous week, which included two COVID deaths and two influenza deaths.
Influenza activity slightly decreased … COVID-19 activity remains moderate,” said the weekly report, released Wednesday.
COVID activity
Public Health reported 31 hospitalizations due to COVID during the seven-day period, including four ICU admissions. That was compared to 22 hospitalizations and five ICU admissions the previous week.
- Age 0-4: Two hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 5-19: One hospitalization, zero ICU admissions
- Age 20-44: Three hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 45-64: Four hospitalizations, one ICU admission
- Age 65+: 21 hospitalizations, three ICU admissions
There were 76 confirmed cases, compared to 86 the week before, and the test positivity rate fell to six per cent from seven per cent.
However, the actual number of new cases is likely much higher as PCR tests are only available when requested by a primary care provider.
A total of two lab-confirmed outbreaks were declared, both of them in nursing homes. That was compared to eight lab-confirmed outbreaks the previous week.
Influenza activity
Public Health reported 11 hospitalizations and one ICU admissions due to influenza during the same period, compared to 12 hospitalizations and zero ICU admissions the week before.
- Age 0-4: One hospitalization, zero ICU admissions
- Age 5-19: One hospitalization, zero ICU admissions
- Age 20-44: Two hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 45-64: One hospitalization, one ICU admissions
- Age 65+: Six hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
There were 93 confirmed cases of influenza, down from 102, and the test positivity rate fell to eight per cent from nine per cent.
Five new influenza-like illness outbreaks were reported in New Brunswick schools during that week. There were also two lab-confirmed influenza outbreaks, including one in a nursing home.
