New Brunswick is reporting increased hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses, according to Public Health.

The latest Respiratory Watch report showed 30 hospitalizations for COVID between Feb. 18 and 24, compared to 17 the previous week.

There were no hospital admissions due to influenza that week, according to the report. The previous week saw seven people hospitalized.

No one was admitted to an intensive care unit for either COVID or influenza, said Public Health.

Health officials reported four deaths due to COVID during the most recent week, compared to two the previous week. The deaths all involved people in the 65 and over age group.

“Influenza activity remained stable … COVID-19 activity remains moderate,” said the weekly report, released Tuesday.

COVID activity

• Age 0-4: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 5-19: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 20-44: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 45-64: Four hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
• Age 65+: 26 hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions

There were 80 confirmed cases, compared to 76 the week before, and the test positivity rate remained stable at 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 six lab-confirmed outbreaks were declared, including two in nursing homes. There were also six lab-confirmed outbreaks the previous week.

Influenza activity

• Age 0-4: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 5-19: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 20-44: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 45-64: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions
• Age 65+: Zero hospitalizations and ICU admissions

There were 89 confirmed cases of influenza, up from 85, and the test positivity rate remained unchanged at eight per cent.

Two new influenza-like illness outbreaks were reported in New Brunswick schools during that week.