9 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Friday, August 27

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Overview
Vaccination
Demographics
Testing
Potential exposure advisories

Nova Scotia announced nine new cases of COVID-19 today, Friday, August 27.

Four of the new cases are in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone — three are related to travel and one is a close contact of a previously reported case.

Three of the new cases are in the Western Zone — two are related to travel and one is a close contact of a previously reported case.

One of the new cases is in the Northern Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case.

And one of the new cases is in the Eastern Zone and is related to travel.

There are now 55 known active cases in the province. No one is in hospital with the disease. Four people are considered newly recovered, which means they are no longer contagious and not necessarily that they aren’t sick.

Vaccination

Yesterday, 3,740 doses of vaccine were administered, of which 2,976 were second doses. This continues the uptick from the daily doses administered in recent days. A total of 1,439,698 doses of vaccine have been administered, of which 685,346 were second doses. As of end of day yesterday, 77.7% of the entire population have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 70.6% have received two doses.

However, the approximately 8,000 military personnel stationed in Nova Scotia were vaccinated through the military’s vaccination program and are not included in the above percentages; if they are included, then the double-dosed percentage increases to 71.4% of the entire population.

The threshold for Phase 5 of the reopening plan, when most Public Health restrictions will be lifted, is 75% of the entire population having received two doses; at the current pace of vaccination, that should happen around September 15.

Of those eligible to be vaccinated (those 12 years old and older), 88.1% have received at least one dose, while 80.0% have received two doses. That’s a rough estimate on my part, using my best guestimate of population age cohorts. Again, if we include military personnel, the double-dosed percentage increases to a whopping 84.0% of those eligible.

The graph above shows the progress of vaccination over time, as captured weekly on Fridays. The blue line is people with one dose only; the green line is people with two doses (the brown line adds in military personnel with two doses); the yellow line is people with at least one dose, and the orange line represents 75% of the entire population.

From March 15 to August 26, 4,305 people tested positive for COVID. Of those:
• 51 (1.2%) were fully vaccinated
• 251 (5.8%) were partially vaccinated
• 4,003 (93.0%) were unvaccinated

Over the same period, 255 people were hospitalized. Of those:
• 2 (0.8%) were fully vaccinated
• 28 (11.0%) were partially vaccinated
• 225 (88.2%) were unvaccinated

Also, for the same period, 28 people died from COVID. Of those:
• 1 (3.6%) was fully vaccinated
• 3 (10.7%) were partially vaccinated
• 24 (85.7%) were unvaccinated

The man in his 60s who died earlier this week was unvaccinated.

For the above stats, “fully vaccinated” means received the second dose and two weeks had passed. “Partially vaccinated” means received one dose and two weeks had passed. “Unvaccinated” means those not in the other categories.

People 12 years old and older can also book a vaccination appointment here.

People in rural areas who need transportation to a vaccination appointment should contact Rural Rides, which will get you there and back home for just $5. You need to book the ride 24 hours ahead of time.

Demographics

The active cases across the province are distributed as follows:

Central Zone
• 15 in the Halifax Peninsula/Chebucto Community Health Network
• 7 in the Dartmouth/Southeastern Community Health Network
• 8 in the Bedford/Sackville Community Health Network
• 1 in the Eastern Shore/Musquodoboit Community Health Network
• 3 in the West Hants Community Health Network
• 3 not assigned to a Community Health Network
Total: 36

Eastern Zone
• 3 in the Cape Breton Community Health Network
• 0 in the Inverness, Victoria & Richmond Community Health Network
• 2 in the Antigonish & Guysborough Community Health Network
Total: 5

Northern Zone
• 1 in the Colchester/East Hants Community Health Network
• 1 in the Pictou Community Health Network
• 8 in the Cumberland Community Health Network
Total: 10

Western Zone
• 3 in the Annapolis and Kings Community Health Network
• 0 in the Lunenburg & Queens Community Health Network
• 1 in the Yarmouth, Shelburne & Digby Community Health Network
Total: 4

Testing

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 2,857 PCR tests yesterday. Additionally, 4,463 antigen tests were administered between Aug. 20 and Aug. 26 at the various rapid-testing pop-up sites

You do not need a health card to get tested.

Pop-up testing (antigen testing) is for asymptomatic people over 16 who have not been to the potential COVID exposure sites (see map below); results usually within 20 minutes. Pop-up testing has been scheduled for the following sites:

Friday
Cole Harbour legion, 11:30am-7pm
Bedford Legion, 11:30am-7pm

Saturday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-7pm
Centennial Arena, 11:30am-7pm
Dartmouth Summer Sunshine Series, 5:30-7:30pm
Cole Harbour legion, 11:30am-7pm
Sobeys, 250 Prince St., Sydney, noon-5pm

Sunday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-7pm
Centennial Arena, 11:30am-7pm
Dartmouth Summer Sunshine Series, 1:30-3:30pm
Cole Harbour legion, 11:30am-7pm
Sobeys, 250 Prince St., Sydney, noon-5pm

Monday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-7pm
Centennial Arena, 11:30am-7pm
Cole Harbour legion, noon-7pm

You can volunteer to work at the pop-up testing sites here or here. No medical experience is necessary.

You can also get PCR testing at the Nova Scotia Health labs by going here. Appointments can be made for the IWK, or for various locations in each of the health zones (appointments may not be available at each site).

Potential exposure advisories

Nova Scotia Health issued several potential COVID exposure advisories last night.

We’ve collected all the active advisories for potential COVID exposures on bus routes and flights here.

The updated potential COVID exposure advisory map is below; you can zoom in and click on the coronavirus icons to get information about each site.

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