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Nova Scotia reports 2 new COVID-19 infections; four new variant cases confirmed

Leigha Kaiser CTVNewsAtlantic.ca writer

Published Tuesday, March 16, 2021 12:36PM ADT Last Updated Tuesday, March 16, 2021 3:47PM ADT

In this Oct. 28, 2020, file photo, medical personnel don PPE while attending to a patient who is not infected with COVID-19, in a section of New York's Bellevue Hospital outfitted to care for COVID-19 patients. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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HALIFAX -- Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting two new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Both cases are in the province's Central zone. One is a close contact to a previously reported case. The other positive case remains under investigation.

Two of Nova Scotia's previously reported cases are now considered resolved, with the total number of active cases remaining at 17.

FOUR NEW VARIANT CASES CONFIRMED

Nova Scotia Public Health says the National Microbiology Lab has confirmed four new variant cases in the region.

Health officials say two of the variant cases are the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom. One of these cases is in the Central zone while the other is in the Western zone. Both of these cases are linked to international travel, according to public health.

The other two variant cases are the B.1.3.5.1 variant, first identified in South Africa. Public health says both of these cases are in the province's Central zone and are linked to previously reported variant cases.

"This brings the total number of cases of the U.K. variant in Nova Scotia to 13 and the South African variant to 10," said health officials in a news release on Tuesday.

Health officials in Nova Scotia say there is currently no sign of community spread from the variant cases.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS TO BEGIN AT HALIFAX HOMELESS SHELTERS

Public health says COVID-19 mobile units will begin vaccinating at seven Halifax homeless shelters in early April.

"This is an important milestone in our efforts to bring vaccine to every Nova Scotian," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health. "People will get their first dose and we will work with the shelters to make sure everyone gets their second dose within four months."

Health officials say delivering vaccines through their mobile units allows the vaccine to be more accessible to certain groups and is an important part of Nova Scotia's vaccine rollout plan.

The mobile units will help administer vaccine to about 900 people who use, work or volunteer at shelters in Halifax region, with help from Nova Scotia Public Health and the Mobile Outreach Street Health team at the North End Community Health Centre.

Public health says the North End Community Health Centre also has a van that they will use to support the vaccination of shelters.

"The plan is for the mobile units to help deliver vaccine over the coming months," wrote the province in a news release on Tuesday. "The mobile units can be outfitted with immunization supplies, have the ability to transport and store vaccine to maintain appropriate temperature conditions for vaccine, and have public health nurses assigned who can support immunization administration."

Public health says the mobile units also network capabilities that allow them to document vaccine administration in real time.

N.S. CASE DATA

The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 1,646 tests on Monday.

The province has completed 391,433 tests since the pandemic began.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,672 COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Of those, 1,590 cases have recovered and 65 people have died due to the novel coronavirus.

There is two people in the hospital's intensive care unit as a result of COVID-19.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central Zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

Western Zone: 105 cases (6 active cases)
Central Zone: 1,348 cases (10 active cases)
Northern Zone: 132 cases (1 active case)
Eastern Zone: 87 cases (0 active cases)

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, 2020, has been extended to March 21, 2021.

VACCINE UPDATE

Nova Scotia's COVID-19 online dashboard provides an update on the amount of vaccines that have been administered to date.

As of Tuesday, 50,144 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far. Of those, 33,494 were first doses and 16,650 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.

Of the vaccines administered 35,197 went to health care workers, and 6,602 were long-term care residents.

UPCOMING RAPID TESTING SITES

Nova Scotia lists the locations for their COVID-19 rapid pop-up testing sites on their website.

Rapid testing in Nova Scotia is offered to people who:

are over 16
do not have symptoms
have not travelled out of province
have not visited a potential exposure location
have not been in contact with someone who has tested positive

Upcoming rapid testing sites include:

Wednesday March 17 at the Halifax Convention Centre - Argyle St. entrance from noon to 6 p.m.
Friday, March 19 at the Dalhousie University Goldberg Building from noon to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 19 at the The Glasgow Square Theatre, 155 Riverside Pkwy, New Glasgow from 1 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 at the Dalhousie University Goldberg Building from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday March 20 at The Glasgow Square Theatre, 155 Riverside Pkwy, New Glasgow from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday March 21 at the Halifax Convention Centre- Argyle St. entrance from noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday March 21 at the Liverpool Legion (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 38), 43 Henry Hensey Dr, Liverpool from noon to 7 p.m.
Monday March 22 at the Halifax Convention Centre - Argyle St. entrance from noon to 6 p.m.
Monday March 22 at the Liverpool Legion (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 38), 43 Henry Hensey Dr, Liverpool from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

UPCOMING MOBILE UNIT TESTING SITES

Drop-in and pre-booked appointments for public health's Mobile Units are available at:

Glace Bay Legion (43 Union St, Glace Bay)
Tuesday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tatamagouche Fire Department (202 Main St, Tatamagouche)
Tuesday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Whycocomagh Fire Hall (9519 Trans-Canada Highway, Whycocomagh)
Wednesday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tatamagouche Fire Department (202 Main St, Tatamagouche)
Wednesday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Judique Community Centre (5473 Trunk 19, Judique)
Thursday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Peter’s Lions Community Hall (39 Lions Ave, St. Peter’s)
Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NOVA SCOTIANS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING

Public health is strongly encouraging Nova Scotians to seek asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, particularly if they have had several social interactions, even with their own social circle.

COVID-19 tests can be booked through the provinces online self-assessment COVID-19 tool, or by calling 811.

People can also visit one of Nova Scotia’s many rapid pop-up testing sites that continue to operate throughout the province.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19: