**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
581 New Cases of COVID-19, Hospital Outbreak
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NOTE: Nova Scotia is issuing an abbreviated COVID-19 news release today and tomorrow, December 28. The online dashboard will not be updated until Wednesday, December 29.
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Today, December 27, Nova Scotia is reporting 581 new cases of COVID-19.
There are 420 cases in Central Zone, 62 cases in Eastern Zone, 42 cases in Northern Zone and 57 cases in Western Zone.
On December 26, NSHA’s labs completed 4,851 tests.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority is reporting an outbreak at a ward at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Currently there is a very low number of patients impacted (less than five), and all patients are being closely monitored and other infection prevention and control measures are being put in place.
Because of a spike in testing and positive cases, public health is experiencing delays in follow-up. All cases should contact their close contacts. Public health is prioritizing contact tracing in long-term care, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, shelters and other group settings.
Information about testing, self-isolation and case management is available at: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus
Additional Resources:
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
Information on provincewide restrictions that took effect on December 22, and other public health measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19, is available at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/
More information on COVID-19 case data, testing and vaccines is available at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data/
More information about public health text notifications of positive COVID-19 cases and close contacts is available here: https://www.nshealth.ca/news/public-health-notifying-positive-covid-19-cases-text-advising-notify-close-contacts
Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus or 1-833-784-4397 (toll-free)
