**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
COVID-19 Weekly Data Report
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The data in this week’s COVID-19 epidemiologic summary points to a possible stabilization in two key metrics after a period of steady increases. In this seven-day reporting period, the number of lab-confirmed cases and the number of cases linked to long-term care outbreaks are similar to levels in the previous six-day reporting period.
“After several weeks of increases, the data suggests we may have hit the peak of the wave when it comes to new COVID-19 infections,” said Dr. Shelley Deeks. Nova Scotia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health. “For many, COVID has been a mild to moderate illness with symptoms that can be managed at home. But that is not the case for everyone, especially older people, which makes our individual actions – getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, keeping our social circles small – that much more important.”
The weekly COVID-19 epidemiologic summary is prepared for the Chief Medical Officer of Health and his team to inform the province’s response to the pandemic. It tracks weekly trends and is focused on monitoring for severe outcomes in key populations. The report is posted on government’s coronavirus website at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/alerts-notices/#epidemiologic-summaries
For the seven-day period ending April 18:
— there were 7,508 positive PCR tests performed at the lab
— there were 84 hospital admissions due to COVID-19
— there were 13 COVID-19 deaths reported in Panorama, public health’s disease information system
— the median age of COVID-19 reported deaths since the start of the Omicron wave (December 8, 2021) is 80
— the median length of a COVID-19 hospital stay is 6.8 days.
As of April 21, 64.5 per cent of Nova Scotians 18 and older have received a booster dose.
Additional Resources:
COVID-19 dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/204d6ed723244dfbb763ca3f913c5cad
Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment: https://novascotia.flow.canimmunize.ca/en/9874123-19-7418965
For information on testing, including where to get a rapid testing kit: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting
Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
