COVID-19: NS reports 61 new cases, new cluster in the North Zone – Halifax | The Canadian News

Nova Scotia reported 61 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, fueled by a new cluster of cases in the North Zone and the community spread elsewhere.

The province also recorded 31 recoveries, bringing the active case count to 200.

Of the new cases, 33 are in the North Zone, 24 in the Central Zone, which includes Halifax, and four cases in the West Zone.

The province noted in a press release that there is a new cluster of cases in a community located in the North Zone and there is also evidence of limited community extension in Halifax and parts of northern Nova Scotia.

“While there is a low level of ongoing community transmission in northern Nova Scotia, the largest number of cases that we observed in the area yesterday and today is associated with a cluster of cases in a defined group of people largely not vaccinated, “said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia Medical Director of Health, in the statement.

“They are cooperating with local public health and the cases appear to be contained within this group.”

The province also said there are no new cases at East Cumberland Lodge, a long-term care home in Pugwash, which has been experiencing an outbreak. A total of 32 residents and 11 staff members tested positive. Four of the residents died during the outbreak.

There are currently 13 people in the hospital, including four patients in the ICU.

Four schools were notified on Monday of an exhibition. They are Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Junior Elementary and Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Senior Elementary in Timberlea, as well as Central Colchester Junior High in Central Onslow and Valley Elementary School in Valley.

Vaccine mandate update

As of Tuesday, 84.6 percent of Nova Scotians have at least one dose of vaccine and 81.3 percent are fully vaccinated.

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The province published its fourth update on the vaccine mandate for key sectors and the provincial public administration.

Tuesday marked the last day for employees under two vaccination mandates to provide their proof of vaccination to their employers.

The most recent data shows that 99 percent of frontline healthcare, continuing care, paramedics, education employees, and others in the COVID-19 vaccine mandate have at least one dose of vaccine.

It also shows that 99 percent of provincial government employees have at least one dose.

On Monday, the province announced that it would offer unvaccinated healthcare workers who are hesitant to receive mRNA vaccines the one-dose Janssen COVID-19 injection by Johnson & Johnson.

Workers without proof of vaccination face unpaid leave. The province says it is “working to monitor and address any impacts.”

For example, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development expects there will be some disruption to school buses at the Halifax Regional Education Center (HRCE) and small outbreaks in other educational regions.

“In HRCE, drivers can be assigned to new routes and a driver may need to cover an additional route before and after school, creating potential delays for students. Families will be notified if there is a change or delay in their child’s bus route, ”the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Aging and Long-Term Care is working with home care facilities and agencies to ensure that residents and seniors continue to receive the care they need.

“While vaccination rates are high across the industry, the existing workforce shortage means that even a small number of unvaccinated staff could result in a facility or agency being unable to accept new residents or seniors. Contingency plans could include the use of employment agencies and traveling nurses and offering part-time and eventual employment to full-time staff, ”said the province.

The province noted that 20 exemptions were granted to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Two human rights waivers out of 134 applications were granted and 18 medical waiver applications were granted out of 49 applications.

A final update on the mandates will be released at the end of the week.