New Brunswick reported a record 140 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths attributed to the virus on Saturday.
It is the highest number of both cases and deaths recorded in a single day since the pandemic began.
The deaths include a person in their 30s and one in their 70s in the Fredericton region, a person in their 50s in the Edmundston region, and a person in their 70s in the Moncton region.
There have now been 64 COVID-related deaths reported in New Brunswick, with 18 of those being recorded since Sept. 7.
Public Health also announced 49 more recoveries Saturday as the number of active cases climbed to a record 764.
Four more people have been hospitalized since Friday’s update. There are currently 44 people in the hospital due to the virus, including 17 in intensive care.
Officials said 35 of those in the hospital, or 80 per cent, are unvaccinated while the remaining nine are partially or fully vaccinated.
Breakdown of new cases
The Moncton region continues to see the highest number of new cases with 52 reported on Saturday, followed by 41 cases in the Edmundston region and 23 cases in the Fredericton health zone.
In addition, the Saint John and Campbellton regions each reported nine cases, the Miramichi health zone saw four new cases, and there were two new cases in the Bathurst region.
According to Public Health, 67 per cent of the new cases involve people who are not vaccinated, 8.5 per cent are partially vaccinated, and 24.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Saturday’s new cases include:
- 40 people aged 19 and under;
- 17 people in their 20s;
- 31 people in their 30s;
- 19 people in their 40s;
- 12 people in their 50s;
- 14 people in their 60s;
- three people in their 70s;
- three people in their 80s; and
- one person aged 90 and over.
Figures show 51 of the new cases involve contacts of a previously confirmed case while the remaining 89 are under investigation.
The full list of potential public exposures to COVID-19 can be found online.
As of Saturday, 80.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received both doses of a vaccine, while 89.4 per cent have received one dose.
Spot checks at churches
The province says Public Safety officers will be conducting spot checks at churches this weekend to ensure the mandatory order rules are being followed.
It comes after a number of churches in the province have been the site of recent public exposures.
“While the vast majority of churches have been following the rules of the mandatory order, concerns remain that not all are,” the province said in a news release.
“Fines will be given to institutions and individuals who break the mandatory order rules.”
Under the mandatory order, faith venues must ensure all participants show proof of full vaccination or implement a number of measures, which include operating at 50 per cent capacity, maintaining physical distancing, ensuring continuous mask use, recording names of all attendees or having assigned seating, and eliminating singing from services.
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