COVID-19: N.S. reports 111 new cases, outbreak at long-term care home

Nova Scotia reported 111 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days and an outbreak at a long-term care home.

The province said the increase in case numbers is related to ongoing community spread in Amherst and Cumberland County, as well as ongoing transmission from a faith-based gathering. This includes secondary transmission to other faith-based gatherings, workplaces and to East Cumberland Lodge, a long-term care home in Pugwash.

1:12 COVID-19 outbreak reported at long-term care home in Nova Scotia

At the facility, public health confirmed that four residents and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19. One resident is in hospital with the virus.

“The fourth wave is still having an impact, especially on older people,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, at a COVID-19 briefing Monday.

She said the current situation shows the importance of getting vaccinated.

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Even though the vaccination rate is very high at the East Cumberland Lodge long-term care home, Dr. Shelley Deeks, Nova Scotia’s deputy chief medical officer of health, said they fully expect to see more cases.

“Rolling out COVID-19 booster vaccines for seniors and people in long-term care homes is important,” Deeks said. The province is in the process of doing so, as well as rolling out flu shots.

4:16 Nova Scotia to roll out COVID-19 boosters to more eligible populations by end of November

Of the 111 new cases, 52 were in Western Zone, 31 cases were in Central Zone, 19 cases were in Northern Zone and nine cases were in Eastern Zone.

Over the past three days, the province said that five schools were notified of a COVID-19 exposure.

As of Monday, Nova Scotia has 255 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, nine people are in hospital, including one in ICU.

Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 2,379 tests on Nov. 5, 3,302 tests on Nov. 6, and 2,068 tests on Nov. 7.

As of Sunday, 1,586,285 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 768,658 Nova Scotians have received their second dose, and 5,182 eligible Nova Scotians have received a third dose.

Since Aug. 1, there have been 1,765 positive COVID-19 cases and seven deaths. There are 1,503 resolved cases.