Northwestern New Brunswick continues to bear the brunt of new COVID-19 cases reported by provincial health officials.
Eleven new cases were reported in the province on Monday and all were in the Edmundston health region (Zone 4).
Public Health says they are still investigating the source of six of the new cases, while the other five are related to previously-discovered cases.
With the new cases, and five additional recoveries reported Monday, the number of active infections rose to 120. Ninety-eight of those active cases are in Zone 4.
Across the province, there are nine active cases in the Moncton health region (Zone 1), six in the Saint John health region (Zone 2), four in the Fredericton health region (Zone 3), two in the Bathurst health region (Zone 6) and one in the Miramichi health region (Zone 7).
Four patients are hospitalized province-wide, including two in an intensive care unit.
Red Phase Expanded
The province has also expanded the red phase to further municipalities in Zone 4.
Beginning at midnight Monday, Saint-Léonard, Grand Falls, Drummond, New Denmark and Four Falls, will join the other areas of Zone 4 in the red phase.
A release from the province indicated the change was made due to the presence of the COVID-19 variant in New Brunswick.
AstraZeneca Vaccine Postponement
The province also announced Monday they would pause the administration of the Astra Zeneca vaccines to individuals under the age of 55.
This follows the announcement by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization directing provinces to suspend the use of AstraZeneca in vaccinating younger Canadians due to ‘rare cases’ in Europe of blood clots occurring in individuals under the age of 55 after receiving their vaccination.
Public Health said of the 20 million doses administered in Europe, just 25 instances of blood clots have been reported.
No adverse side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine have been reported in Canada.
New Brunswickers over the age of 55 can still receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
With files from Ben Burnett and Brad Perry.
