New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health confirmed Saturday another COVID-19 death in New Brunswick, of an individual in their 70s in Zone 4 (Edmundston region).

This brings the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 to 33. It’s also the third death this week.

Dr. Jennifer Russell said that public health will now operate under the assumption that all confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 are one of the variants of concern, which are highly infectious and easily transmittable.

READ MORE: New Brunswick reports second COVID-19 death this week, positive case at daycare

She said the continued rise of cases along with the rising numbers of hospitalization provides stark evidence of this.

“This is no longer business as usual,” said Russell at the COVID-19 briefing on Saturday.

Russell said these new cases are straining the province’s healthcare system, particularly in Zone 4, where 15 cases of the 19 new ones have been confirmed.According to the province, two of the new cases are in the Fredericton area (Zone 3), one in the Moncton area (Zone 1), and one in the Saint John area (Zone 2).
Click to play video: 'New Brunswick’s top doctor says some hospitalized with COVID-19 were previously given vaccine'
New Brunswick’s top doctor says some hospitalized with COVID-19 were previously given vaccine
As a result, the Edmundston and Upper Madawaska areas of Zone 4 will transition back into a full lockdown as of midnight tonight.