COVID-19 kills 2 more in N.B., flu sends child under 4 and 2 youths to hospital

COVID-19 has killed two more New Brunswickers, while a child under four and twoyouthsaged five to 19 are among those hospitalized by the flu, Tuesday's RespiratoryWatch report shows.

"COVID-19 activity remains moderate; some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and number of deaths) remained stable during the current reporting period,"April 7 to April 13, the report says.

Influenza activity decreased slightly, it says.

The two people who died from COVIDduring the reporting week were both aged 65 or older.

Their deathsraisethe provincial pandemic total to at least 1,030.The actual number is unclear because the Department of Healthcounts only people who die in hospital as COVID deaths.

Hospitalizations increase to 18

Eighteen people were hospitalized for or with COVID,up from 11 in the previous report.

Nonerequired intensive care, down from two

Of those hospitalized, two were aged 45 to 64, while the others were 65 or older.

Lab-confirmed COVID outbreaks dropped to two, from four. Neither outbreak was in a nursing home. They were both in "other facilities," the report says.

Horizon Health Network is reporting one hospital unit outbreak, as of Monday, at the Ridgewood Veterans Wing in Saint John, while Vitalitsays Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst has outbreaks on two units general medicine and extended care (4 West).

There were27new cases of COVID confirmed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab tests, up slightly from the 25 cases confirmed the previous week

The positivity rate or the percentage of lab tests performed that produced a positive result remains unchanged at three percent.

A total of 151,677 COVID-19 vaccines have now been administeredsince Oct. 4, the Department of Health said.

Spring boosters have beenavailable since April 2to New Brunswickers considered most at riskof severe illness. The spring doses will be available until June 15, the departmenthas said.

New flu cases decrease 30%

Noflu deaths were reported betweenApril 7 andApril 13, according to the report.

The flu sent five people to hospital that week and none to ICU. That's downfrom eightand two, respectively, in the previous report.

No flu outbreaks were reported, down from one.

Influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools increased to two, from one a week ago.Nodetails are provided, butschool outbreaks are based on absence of 10 per cent because of influenza-like illness symptoms, according to the report.

The number of newflu cases confirmed by lab tests decreased to 74 from106, and thepositivity rate is eightper cent, down from 10.

Six of the new cases were influenza A and 68 were influenza B.

There have now been 3,505 flu cases confirmedsince the respiratory season began on Aug. 27.

A total of 223,198 New Brunswickershave been vaccinated against the fluthis season, according to figures from the department.