A man in his 30s has become Nova Scotia’s youngest victim of COVID-19.
Premier Iain Rankin delivered the news following a cabinet meeting on Thursday. He told reporters that this is a reminder of the seriousness of the pandemic.
“Another reminder of how deadly this virus can be, and why it’s so important that we take this cautious, evidence-based approach as we start to move through a slow reopening of our economy,” he said.
“My thoughts and prayers, on behalf of all Nova Scotians, go out to the family and friends that are impacted by such a tragic loss.”
The man was the 88th person to die of COVID-19 in the province. Twenty-two of those deaths happened since April 1 of this year.
There are also 25 new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, 15 of which are in the central zone. All but four are close contacts of previously-reported cases or related to travel.
“So we still have limited spread in the HRM area, so that’s concerning,” he said. “It’s not a major spike, but it’s another reminder of how serious our cases are.”
Rankin urged Nova Scotians to get tested for COVID-19, especially as the province begins to reopen.
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As of Thursday, the province has 273 active cases. There are 22 people in hospital, including nine in ICU.
Meanwhile, 608,488 doses of a vaccine have been administered in the province. Of those, 43,917 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
On Wednesday, the province reported two deaths and the first blood clot linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The person who had the clot is recovering.
The province also entered its first phase of its reopening plan on Wednesday.
Restaurant patios can now open and the outdoor gathering limit has been increased to 10. Retail stores can operate at 25 per cent capacity with physical distancing and personal services — such as hair salons, barber shops and spas — can offer services that don’t require the removal of a mask by appointment only.
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, has said he is confident the province will be able to move into phase two of the plan by June 16.
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