Nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the province today – seven in the Central Health region, and two in Eastern Health.

There is one new presumptive positive case, and there are 14 people in hospital.

Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosann Seviour says questions have been raised about the number of breakthrough cases involving those who are fully vaccinated, which she elaborated on during today’s briefing.

According to Seviour, since February 28th of 2021 when the first breakthrough infection was reported, 84.5 per cent of COVID-19 cases were in partially or unvaccinated individuals.

15.5 per cent of cases were in people who were at least two weeks past their final dose.

3.8 per cent of breakthrough infections were associated with hospitalization or death, says Seviour.

As for specific numbers and circumstances, Dr. Seviour says Public Health officials have to balance the release of public information with privacy concerns.

She says data on the government’s COVID-19 website hub feature will be updated after every ten cases.

She reiterated how the vaccine helps to prevent people from developing serious illness and offered the recent outbreak in a seniors residence as an example.

“Only 12 per cent of residents were infected and none had severe outcomes requiring hospitalization”, she says, “the vaccine did its job.”