New Brunswick has identified a confirmed case of BA.2, the new Omicron subvariant.
A sample identified at a lab in the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre came from a person in the Moncton health zone, Public Health said in a news release Friday.
“While the impact of all variants continues to be monitored, we know that vaccination – including a booster – in combination with public health and individual measures, is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.
“I encourage everyone to book their vaccine appointment or attend a walk-in immunization clinic, as we know this is the best defence against these variants and will reduce the risk of severe outcomes and hospitalizations.”
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization said the BA.2 variant of Omicron does not appear to be more severe than the original variant.
The subvariant does seem to be more transmissible, however, suggests the findings of a recent Danish study.
Meanwhile, another New Brunswicker who had COVID-19 has died, bringing the total number of deaths to 252.
The most recent death involved a person in their 80s in the Bathurst zone.
Hospitalizations are down by two from Thursday to 163, but admissions to intensive care units increased by three to 17.
Nine hospital patients are using a ventilator, up three from Thursday.
92.3 per cent have had a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 85 per cent have both doses and 45.7 per cent have had the booster dose.
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