4 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Tuesday, June 15

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Overview
Phase 2
Vaccination
Demographics
Testing
Potential exposure advisories

Nova Scotia announced four new cases of COVID-19 today (Tuesday, June 15).

Three of the new cases are in the Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone; all three are close contacts of previously reported cases.

The fourth case is the Eastern Zone and is related to travel.

There are now 97 known active cases in the province; six people are in hospital with the disease, four of whom are in ICU; 29 people are considered newly recovered today.

Click here to see Nova Scotia’s reopening plan.

Here are the daily new case numbers and the seven-day rolling averages (today at 9.7) since March 28, the last day Nova Scotia had zero new daily cases:

Here is the graph of daily new case numbers from the start of the pandemic in March 2020:

Here is the active caseload since March 28:

And here is the active caseload from the start of the pandemic in March 2020:

Phase 2

At todays COVID briefing, Premier Iain Rankin confirmed that Phase 2 of the province’s reopening plan will begin tomorrow. You can see what that entails here.

Rankin also said that the Atlantic Bubble will be reconstituted effective June 23 — that is, people will be able to travel between the four provinces without self-isolating.

Additionally, the province announced $18.2 million in funding to assist the tourism industry.

Lastly, in response to my question, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang confirmed that two Halifax school-connected cases announced last night were misidentified as being connected to Joe Howe Elementary School; in reality, they are connected to St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary, and there is a third case announced today connected to Sir John A. Macdonald High School in Tantallon.

Vaccination

Yesterday, 6,586 doses of vaccine were administered; a total of 705,565 doses have been administered; of those, 54,361 were second doses. As of end of day yesterday, 67.0% of the entire population has received at least one dose of vaccine.

The graph above shows the percentage of each age cohort that has received at least one dose of vaccine. The population figure is based on the 2019 census, so the percentage skews a little high. The vertical yellow line represents 85% of those eligible for a vaccine (that is, those 12 years old and older) — the percentage needed such that 75% of the entire population (that is, including those 11 years old and younger) is vaccinated. The youngest age cohorts aren’t included in the graph because they haven’t had much time to get vaccinated.

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

People in rural areas who need transportation to a vaccine clinic 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
• 47 in the Halifax Peninsula/Chebucto Community Health Network
• 13 in the Dartmouth/Southeastern Community Health Network
• 8 in the Bedford/Sackville Community Health Network
• 0 in the Eastern Shore/Musquodoboit Community Health Network
• 0 in the West Hants Community Health Network
• 7 not assigned to a Community Health Network
Total: 67

Eastern Zone
• 37 in the Cape Breton Community Health Network
• 1 in the Inverness, Victoria & Richmond Community Health Network
• 1 in the Antigonish & Guysborough Community Health Network
Total: 39

Northern Zone
• 2 in the Colchester/East Hants Community Health Network
• 3 in the Pictou Community Health Network
• 1 in the Cumberland Community Health Network
Total: 6

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

Testing

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 5,564 PCR tests yesterday. This does not include the antigen tests administered at the 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:

Tuesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Halifax Convention Centre, 2-9pm
Centennial Arena, noon-7pm

Wednesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Halifax Convention Centre, 2-9pm
Centennial Arena, noon-7pm

Thursday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Halifax Convention Centre, 2-9pm
Centennial Arena, noon-7pm
Shelburne Community Centre, noon-7pm

Friday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Halifax Convention Centre, 2-9pm
Centennial Arena, noon-7pm
Shelburne Community Centre, 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

Public Health only issues potential exposure advisories when they think they may not have been able to contact all close contacts at that locale. The large majority of potential exposure sites never make it onto a public advisory.

The following potential COVID exposure advisory were issued last night:

Anyone who worked at or visited the following location on the specified date and time should visit covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. You can also call 811 if you don’t have online access, or if you have other symptoms that concern you.

For the following locations, if you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 you do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your test result. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you are required to self-isolate while you wait for your test result, as are the other members of your household.

• Boston Pizza (111 Shubie Drive, Dartmouth) on June 5 between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 19.
• Atlantic Superstore (5178 St Margaret’s Bay Road, Upper Tantallon) on June 10 between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 24.
• Giant Tiger (201 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax) on June 8 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 22.
• Walmart (220 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax) on June 9 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 23.
• Costco (230 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax) on June 10 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 24.
• Dollarama (209 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax) on June 10 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 24.
• Boston Pizza (194A Chain Lake Drive, Halifax) on June 10 between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 24.
• Dylan’s No Frills (16 Dentith Road, Halifax) on June 11 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, June 25.

I’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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