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Overview
Vaccination
Testing
Three more Nova Scotians have died from COVID-19. The deceased are:
• a man in his 70s who lived in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone
• a woman in her 70s who lived in the Western Zone
• a man in his 80s who lived in the Western Zone
In total, 146 Nova Scotians have died from COVID, 36 of whom have died since Dec. 3.
Nova Scotia is reporting 93 people in hospital who were admitted because of COVID symptoms, 15 of whom are in ICU. Those 93 range in age from 1 to 100 years old, and the average age is 68.
Additionally, there are:
• 116 people admitted to hospital for other reasons but who tested positive for COVID during the admissions screening or who were admitted for COVID but no longer require specialized care
• 142 people in hospital who contracted COVID in the hospital outbreaks
The vaccination status of the 93 is as follows:
• 18 (19.4%) have had 3 doses
• 54 (58.1%) have had 2 doses but not 3
• 1 (1.1%) have had 1 dose only
• 20 (21.5%) are unvaccinated
Note that just 8.8% of the population is unvaccinated.
Additionally, the province announced 256 new cases of COVID-19 today. The new cases are people who received a positive PCR test result from a Nova Scotia Health lab; it does not include people who tested positive using a take-home rapid (antigen) test.
Noting the above caveat that the new cases are only those detected with a PCR test, this is the lowest single-day new case count since Dec. 15, when there were 178 new cases reported.
By Nova Scotia Health zone, the new cases break down as:
• 98 Central
• 70 Eastern
• 35 Northern
• 53 Western
Based on PCR testing only, the Department of Health estimates that there are 3,913 active cases in the province; the actual number is undoubtedly much higher.
Hospital outbreaks
There are two new hospital outbreaks, at:
• Hants Community Hospital in Windsor
• a new ward at Dartmouth General Hospital.
Fewer than five patients at each facility have tested positive.
Additionally, there are new cases at ongoing hospital outbreaks:
- Victoria General — 4 new for a total of 10
- Digby General Hospital — 2 new for a total of fewer than 10
- Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville — 1 new for a total of fewer than 10
- Halifax Infirmary — 1 new for a total of fewer than 5
Vaccination
Over the last three days (Fri, Sat, Sun), 13,322 doses of vaccine were administered:
• 531 first doses
• 1,441 second doses
• 11,350 third doses
In total, 2,107,431 doses have been administered:
• 875,365 first doses
• 802,455 second doses
• 429,611 third doses
By the end of the day yesterday, 91.2% of the entire population have received at least one dose of vaccine:
• 7.5% with 1 dose only
• 39.3% with 2 doses but not 3
• 44.4% with 3 doses
• 8.8% unvaccinated
Appointments for boosters are open to people 18 and over for whom 168 days have passed since their second shot.
Vaccination appointments for people 5 years of age and older can be booked 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.
Testing
Yesterday, Nova Scotia Health labs completed 1,721 PCR tests, with a positivity rate of 14.9%.
If you test positive with a rapid (antigen) test, you are assumed to definitely have COVID, and you and your household are to self-isolate as required.
But take-home rapid testing kits are no longer widely available.
Pop-up testing has been scheduled for the following sites:
Monday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Hubbards Lions Club, 2-6pmTuesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Alderney Gate, 4-6pm
New Germany Legion, 11am-3pm
Brooklyn Civic Centre, 11am-3pmWednesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Alderney Gate, 10am-2pm
Windsor Legion, 11am-3pm
You can volunteer to work at the pop-up testing sites here or here. No medical experience is necessary.
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