Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, as the province provided more detail on its vaccine rollout plan.
This latest case figure comes after the province last reported double-digit increases in COVID-19 on Feb. 26.
According to public health, the new cases are in the central zone. One is a close contact of a previously reported case and the other case is under investigation.
Premier Iain Rankin said at Friday’s COVID-19 briefing that Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout is ramping up as more clinics keep opening.
“While our case numbers are staying low, the cases without a known source of infection could indicate a low level of COVID-19 activity that has not been detected yet,” Rankin said.
He also noted there’s a plan underway to rollout the AstraZeneca vaccine to Nova Scotians aged 50 to 64 years old, adding more details about the plan will be shared next week.
Health Canada has also approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.
But Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, said it’s too soon to say how the province will be using it.
“We have to get approved and we know we’ll get that at some point in April,” Strang said.
In the meantime, he said the age group getting the AstraZeneca vaccine have the choice to get it, or wait for the other vaccines available in the coming weeks.
By the end of June, Strang said all Nova Scotians, who want to take the vaccines, will be receiving their first dose.
“We have to remember that at the end of June target is dependent on the supply,” Strang said.
“Of course if more Nova Scotians want vaccine than our planning number of 80 per cent then it will take longer to get those extra people their first dose of the vaccine.”
The province also announced in a press release that it’s renewing the state of emergency to “ensure safety measures and other important actions can continue.”
The order will take effect at noon Sunday and extend to noon Sunday, Mar. 21, unless government terminates or extends it.
As of March 4, 38,676 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 14,395 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia said it has completed 239,100 tests. There have been 562 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths.
Three people are currently in hospital. Of those, one is in ICU.
As of Friday, 531 cases have been resolved, but 31 active cases remain, according to the province.
There were 5,618 tests administered between Feb. 26 and March 2 at the rapid-testing pop-up sites in Eastern Passage, Halifax and Spryfield.
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