
N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 1 new death, some circuit breakers extended, others lifted
CBC
New Brunswick announced one new COVID-related death, a one-week extension of the circuit breaker in parts of Zones 1 and 2 and the lifting of circuit breakers in Zones 3, 4 and 5, effective Friday at 6 p.m.
A person in their 50s in the Moncton region, Zone 1, has died because of COVID-19, said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.
This pushes the province's pandemic death toll to 120.
"This never gets easier, nor should it," said Russell.
But circuit-breaker measures introduced a month ago have helped roll back the fourth wave of the pandemic, she told the COVID briefing.
There are 39 new cases of COVID-19, she said, down from more than 100 in early October.
Eighteen people are hospitalized because of the virus, down from 19 Wednesday, including 12 in intensive care, a decrease of one.
There are 464 active cases of COVID across the province.
Public Health remains concerned about the spread of the virus in the Moncton region, Zone 1, and Saint John region, Zone 2. The positivity rates in these areas are above the provincial average.
As a result, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced the circuit breaker in the regions will be extended for at least another seven days.
Meanwhile, the restrictions can be lifted in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, Edmundston region, Zone 4, and Campbellton region, Zone 5, she said, where the overall case activity has decreased.
Public Health is keeping a close eye on a "spike" in cases in the Miramichi region, Zone 7, said Russell.
A total of 85.4 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 or older are fully vaccinated, up from 85.3 per cent, while 92.8 per cent have received their first dose, up from 92.7.
New Brunswick has had 6,576 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 5,998 recoveries so far.

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