N.B. opposition slams changes in COVID-19 reporting – CBC
Green Party Leader David Coon and Liberal health critic Rob McKee say redefining COVID death makes no sense
Sep 14, 2023
New Brunswick opposition parties have accused the government of trying to downplay COVID-19 by changing the way it reports on the virus.
On Tuesday the province launched a new Respiratory Watch report, which provides updates on both COVID-19 and influenza. Among the changes is a new definition for COVID deaths that will see only deaths that occur in hospital counted.
“It feels a lot like Blaine Higgs is trying to minimize the number of deaths associated with the COVID pandemic by imposing this really restrictive definition for what will count as a COVID death,” said Green Party Leader Coon. “And that’s just wrong on so many levels.”
Coon contends COVID deaths are an important measure of the impact of the virus and how well the province is doing at protecting New Brunswickers.
He argues the government should count every person who dies from COVID — no matter where they die.
