N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province 'on target' to return to Level 2 by Jan. 31, says Higgs
CBC
New Brunswick is "on target" to return Level 2 of the COVID-19 winter plan by Jan. 31, as scheduled, says Premier Blaine Higgs.
The past week at the more restrictive Level 3 has reduced contacts by 30 per cent and the early indications are the number of hospitalizations is growing at a slower rate, he told a COVID briefing.
The goal of the 16-day lockdown is to ease building pressure on the health-care system and get more people boosted, said Higgs. And it seems to be working.
"Now that could change," he was quick to add.
"But right now, I am just happy and excited to report we are on track."
He noted case counts will continue to rise and "we likely still have not seen the peak of our hospitalizations."
"But we together have given our health-care system a better chance to manage this," he said.
The province moved to Level 3, the most restrictive level of the COVID plan, last Friday at 11:59 p.m.
On Thursday, Public Health announced three more COVID-related deaths, marking 25 deaths in eight days, and 124 people in hospital with COVID.
Seventy-one of these patients were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19. Twelve patients are in intensive care, and nine of them are on ventilators.
Friday's figures have not yet been released.
About 450 health-care workers are off, having tested positive for COVID or isolating, Higgs said.
Some health-care workers have started to return to work after their five-day isolation period, however, which he described as a "positive sign."
The Department of Social Development has identified some 160 emergency care beds for hospital patients currently waiting to be placed in a long-term care home, said Higgs.
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