Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and announced that public health mobile units will start vaccinating at homeless shelters in Halifax in early April.
According to the province, the new coronavirus cases are in the central zone. One of the cases is a close contact of a previously reported case. The other case is under investigation.
The National Microbiology Lab also confirmed four new variant cases — two more cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, originally identified in the U.K., and two more cases of the B.1.351 variant, originally identified in South Africa.
The province said that this brings the total number of cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in Nova Scotia to 13 and the B.1.351 variant to 10.
One of the B.1.1.7 variant cases is in the central zone and the other is in the western zone. Both are directly linked to international travel.
The two B.1.351 variant cases are in the central zone and are linked to previously reported variant cases.
“At this time, there is no sign of community spread from the variant cases,” the province said in a press release.
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COVID-19 vaccination clinics and rollout
Premier Iain Rankin said at a COVID-19 briefing that all community clinic appointments have been booked this week with a total of 13,000.
He said people who haven’t booked an appointment should not worry as they’ll have the opportunity to get their vaccine.
In the meantime, 6,000 appointments have been booked for AstraZeneca. Two more vaccination clinics have opened up for First Nation communities, as well as more pharmacy prototype clinics.
Rankin also said that public health mobile units will start vaccinating at homeless shelters in Halifax in early April, which be “a key piece of the vaccination rollout moving forward.”
The mobile units will make the vaccine more accessible to certain groups.
“We have communities in our province who historically have been difficult to reach or have experienced barriers to accessing health services,” Rankin said in a release.
“One of the first vaccine stops for our mobile units will be to immunize people who use, work, or volunteer at homeless shelters.”
The province said it will begin with seven shelters in Halifax.
“This is an important milestone in our efforts to bring vaccine to every Nova Scotian,” said Strang. “People will get their first dose and we will work with the shelters to make sure everyone gets their second dose within four months.”
The mobile unit will help administer vaccine to about 900 people who use, work or volunteer at shelters in the Halifax region. The North End Community Health Centre also has a van that they will use to support the vaccination of shelters, according to the province.
The plan is for the mobile units to help deliver vaccine over the coming months.
AstraZeneca concerns
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) announced Tuesday that they’re expanding the recommended age group for AstraZeneca to include those 65 and older, but Dr. Robert Strang said at the briefing that it’s still recommended that those most at risk get Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Strang also addressed concerns about AstraZeneca vaccines coming from Europe, which allegedly has caused blood clots. He said there is no evidence right now in Canada to show this is a concern, and that the country’s batch is different from the ones in Europe. However, Strang said “they are continually monitoring the situation.”
READ MORE: AstraZeneca vaccine can now be used on seniors in Canada, NACI says
When it comes to deciding whether to get the vaccine or not, inaccurate information can put your life at risk, said Strang, who recommended that when in doubt people can go to a credible government website for information.
He also busted the myth that people don’t need to wear a mask or to physically distance after vaccination.
“We’ll need to keep doing that after vaccine because the vaccines do take time … You’re not instantly immune … We also don’t know if vaccinated people can keep spreading virus,” Strang said.
As of Tuesday, Nova Scotia has 17 active cases of COVID-19.
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs said it completed 1,646 Nova Scotia tests on March 15.
As of Monday, 50,144 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 16,650 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia said it has completed 268,262 tests. There have been 583 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths.
Two people are currently in hospital, in intensive care. There are 566 resolved cases.
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