COVID-19 and influenza hospitalizations in New Brunswick were up during the first full week of March.
The latest Respiratory Watch report shows 44 hospital admissions during the week of March 3.
That was compared to 26 hospitalizations reported the week before, according to Public Health.
One person was admitted to an intensive care unit, which was similar to the previous week.
Two deaths due to COVID-19 were reported, all involving people aged 65 and over.
“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: Five hospitalizations, one ICU admission
- Age 65+: 16 hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
There were 60 confirmed cases, compared to 74 the week before, and the test positivity rate fell to five per cent from six 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.
Influenza activity
- Age 0-4: Three hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 5-19: Four hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 20-44: Four hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 45-64: Two hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
- Age 65+: 10 hospitalizations, zero ICU admissions
There were 145 confirmed influenza cases, up from 120, and the test positivity rate increased to 12 per cent from 11 per cent.
Officials reported no new influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools or lab-confirmed influenza outbreaks in nursing homes.
