COVID-19 hospitalizations in N.L. rise to 25, tying provincial record

There are 25 people hospitalized due toCOVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador, tying a provincial record set earlier this month.

The number of hospitalizations, announced Thursday by the provincial Department of Health, is up five since Wednesday, with eight people in intensive care.

According to data from the Department of Health, nearly 100 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 since Dec. 21. Over half of thoseadmitted were people over the age of 70.

The province has previously said people over the age of 50 are the most likely to be hospitalized as a result of the virus, but getting a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help prevent severe health outcomes such as hospitalizations and death.

Health officials also reported 243 new cases of the virus:160 in the Eastern Health region, 31 in the Central Health region, 24 in the Western Health region and 28 in the Labrador-GrenfellHealth region.

With 234 new recoveries, the province's known active caseload ticked upward to1,588.

A total of 1,314 tests have been completed since Wednesday, with a positivity rate of 18.5 per cent.

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