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Overview
Vaccination
Testing
Four more Nova Scotians have died from COVID-19, bringing the total number of COVID deaths in the province to 121.
The deceased are:
• a man in his 40s who lived in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone
• a man is his 70s who lived in the Central Zone
• a man in his 80s who lived in the Eastern Zone
• a woman in her 90s who lived in the Central Zone
There are now now 73 people in hospital who were admitted because of COVID symptoms and are still in COVID units, 10 of whom are in ICU. Those 73 range in age from 0 (one is a child under 5) to 100 years old, and the average age is 67. The average hospital stay is six days.
Additionally, there are:
• 64 people who were admitted to hospital for other reasons but tested positive for COVID during the admissions screening or who were admitted for COVID but no longer require specialized care
• 112 people in hospital who contracted COVID in the hospital outbreaks
The 73 people now hospitalized because of COVID and still in COVID units have the following vaccination status:
• 8 (11.0%) have had 3 doses
• 45 (61.6%) have had 2 doses but not 3
• 5 (6.8%) have had 1 dose
• 15 (20.5%) are unvaccinated
Note: only 9.4% of the entire population is unvaccinated.
Nova Scotia additionally announced 495 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:
• 227 Central
• 89 Eastern
• 31 Northern
• 148 Western
Based on PCR test results, Public Health estimates that there are 5,736 active cases in the province; the actual number is undoubtedly much higher.
Hospital outbreaks
There is a new hospital outbreak at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville. Fewer than 10 patients have tested positive.
There are new cases in four existing hospital outbreaks:
• Northside General (one ward) — 1 new, total of fewer than 10
• Northside General (a 2nd ward) — 1 new, total of fewer than 5
• Northside General (a 3rd ward) — 1 new, total of fewer than 10
• Colchester East Hants Health Centre — 1 new, total of fewer than 10
Vaccination
In total, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 24,197 doses of vaccine were administered.
By the end of the day yesterday, 90.6% of the entire population have received at least 1 dose of vaccine:
• 7.5% with first dose only
• 54.0% with 2 doses but not 3
• 29.1% with 3 doses
• 9.4% unvaccinated
This morning, the province opened up appointment for boosters 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.
There are many drop-in Pfizer vaccine clinics scheduled, several for kids five years old and older.
Additionally, the province has scheduled several appointment-based vaccination clinics for booster shots.
Testing
Nova Scotia Health labs completed a total of 2,275 PCR tests yesterday, with a positivity rate of 21.8%.
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
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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