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Overview
Vaccination
Testing
Nova Scotia is reporting today that there are 58 people in hospital who were admitted because of COVID symptoms, 10 of whom are in ICU. Those 58 range in age from 0 (one is a child under 5) to 100 years old, and the average age is 66.
Additionally, there are:
• 51 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
• 108 people in hospital who contracted COVID in the hospital outbreaks
The province also announced 627 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.
By Nova Scotia Health zone, the new cases break down as:
• 339 Central
• 113 Eastern
• 93 Western
• 82 Northern
Vaccination
Vaccination data are not provided on weekends.
Appointments for boosters are now open to people 30 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.
There are many drop-in Pfizer vaccine clinics scheduled, starting next week, several for kids five years old and older.
Additionally, the province has scheduled several appointment-based vaccination clinics for booster shots, as follows:
New community clinics will offer vaccine by appointment starting:
- Thursday, January 6, at the Halifax Forum
- Monday, January 10, at the Acadia Festival Theatre in Wolfville
- Monday, January 17, at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth
- Monday, January 24, at the Nova Scotia Community College campus in Truro.
Some existing COVID-19 testing centres will also offer vaccine by appointment. The following centres will start vaccinations on Monday, January 10:
- Rath Eastlink Community Centre, Truro
- Pictou County Assessment Centre, New Glasgow
- Cumberland County Assessment Centre, Amherst
- Antigonish Market Square, Antigonish
- Grand Lake Road Fire Hall, Sydney
- Berwick Fire Hall, Berwick
- Mariners Centre, Yarmouth.
The Digby Station testing centre will offer vaccine by appointment starting Monday, January 24.
Testing
Nova Scotia Health labs completed 4,124 PCR tests yesterday, with a positivity rate of 15.2%.
The testing protocols have changed. Now, if you test positive with a rapid (antigen) test, you no longer will follow that up with a PCR test. Instead, 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:
Saturday
Cancelled due to weather.Sunday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-4pm
Alderney Gate, 10am-2pmMonday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Cole Harbour Place, 11am-3pmTuesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Alderney Gate, 4-6pm
Brooklyn Civic Centre, 11am-3pm
Chedabucto Lifestyle Centre (Guysborough), 11am-3pmWednesday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Alderney Gate, 10am-2pm
Windsor Legion, 11am-3pm
Dr Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre (Springhill), 11am-3pmThursday
Halifax Central Library, noon-7pm
Enfield Fire Hall, 11am-3pm
Tatamagouche Legion, 11am-3pm
Arichat OLA Parish Hall, 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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