**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
586 New Cases of COVID-19
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Today, December 29, Nova Scotia is reporting 586 new cases of COVID-19. From December 25 to 28, 69 lab results were repeat positives.
There are 393 cases in Central Zone, 106 cases in Eastern Zone, 56 cases in Northern Zone and 31 cases in Western Zone.
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 facilities, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, shelters and other group settings.
Information about testing, self-isolation and case management is at: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus .
Active Cases, Hospitalization, Tests, Vaccination Data
Nova Scotia Health Authority is reporting six patients have tested positive for COVID-19 at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish. All patients are being closely monitored and appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place. Testing is available for all staff members and doctors on site who want to get tested.
There are no new cases related to the outbreak at a ward at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. A total of six patients have tested positive. All patients are being closely monitored and appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place. Staff testing is underway.
There are no changes in the current hospital outbreaks at Dartmouth General Hospital and the separate ward at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The total number of cases at both hospitals is still fewer than five.
As of today, there are an estimated 5,053 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Of those, 24 people are in hospital, including three in ICU.
On December 28, NSHA’s labs completed 5,355 tests.
As of December 28, 1,776,330 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 794,192 Nova Scotians have received their second dose, and 120,713 eligible Nova Scotians have received a third dose.
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 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)