The provincial government has released the latest COVID numbers for the last week.

Public Health is reporting 13 new hospitalizations including three people in critical care.

Three new COVID-related deaths are being reported over the last week.

Overall, COVID numbers remain low. Public Health is still doing COVID testing in acute care and long-term care settings and is monitoring wastewater for the presence of the COVID virus.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald announced this week that the province will begin distributing COVID rapid tests to residents through the mail in the coming weeks. Two test kits, containing five tests each will be sent to each household to allow residents to test when they experience symptoms.

The tests are being distributed as the incidence of respiratory illnesses increases. Residents are being encouraged to report positive rapid test results to give Public Health a better idea of the incidence of COVID in the community.