N.B. adds 8 more COVID-19 deaths, test positivity rate hits nearly year-long high

New Brunswick reported eight more deaths from COVID-19 Tuesday, raising the pandemic death toll to 856, and the test positivity rate continued to climb, reaching a nearly year-long high.

Hospital admissions because of the virus, meanwhile, "remained stable" March 12 to March 18, and the number of new lab-confirmed cases decreased, the COVIDWatch report shows.

The latest results come about two weeks after March Break, when many students and their families travelled out of the province or out of the country.

Although the number of new cases has "been stable for the last several weeks, we encourage New Brunswickers to remain up to date with our latest guidance," said Department of Health spokesperson Sean Hatchard.

The department "has recommended, and continues to recommend, that everyone assess their own risk levels when determining the precautions they should use in their day-to-day lives to reduce their risks of infection," he said in an emailed statement.

CBC requested an interview with Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, but Hatchard said, "An interview is not possible." He did not elaborate.

CBC also asked why the department stopped posting about the weekly reports on social media last month.

Hatchard said the COVIDWatch report is posted on the government's website every Tuesday, unless a holiday or other circumstances temporarily change the routine schedule.

"At this point in the pandemic, New Brunswickers seeking the latest information on COVID-19 are familiar with where the reports are posted online, and can find them at gnb.ca/coronavirus at their convenience," he said.

None of the deaths occurred during the reporting week in question. One person died earlier in March, six in February and one in January, a graphic in the report indicates.

Deaths are subject to an average two-month lag in reporting, from date of death to the registration of death, the report says.

One person was aged 50 to 69 and the other seven were all 70 or older, a comparison of data to last week's report shows.

Seventeen people were newly admitted to hospital because of COVID, up from 15 a week ago. Two of them require intensive care, down from three.

Among the new admissions is a person under 20, the youngest age category provided. Five are aged 20 to 59, three are 60 to 69 and eight are 70 or older.