This week’s COVID-19 data report shows a steady increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed infections and a corresponding increase in the indicators used to monitor severe outcomes. Due to the wide coverage of vaccines, there are fewer people as a percentage of the total cases ending in hospital or dying from COVID-19.
“We know that vaccines offer excellent protection against severe outcomes – and this is true for all age groups – but we see the impact most clearly in older people, whose risk of severe outcomes is highest,” said Dr Robert Strang, chief executive. Medical Director of Nova Scotia Health. “We see the greatest impact in those with at least three doses – that is, a complete primary series and a booster. A booster dose of the vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization by more than 80 percent and the risk of death from COVID by more than 90 percent compared to those who have not been vaccinated or have only one dose. “
This week’s report covers a six-day period from April 6th to April 11th. Future reports will cover seven days, Tuesday to Monday. This adjustment allows data and the public health monitoring team more time to collect, validate and analyze information. The edition will continue to be distributed on Thursday.
The weekly summary has a new table showing the number and percentage of hospitalizations and deaths by age group during the Omicron wave, which began on December 8, 2021. This, along with other information in the weekly report, helps public health understand – well the two biggest risk factors for serious illness and death, which are age and vaccination.
A weekly epidemiological summary of COVID-19 has been prepared for Dr. Strang and his team to inform the province’s response to the pandemic. It tracks weekly trends and focuses on monitoring severe outcomes in key populations. The report is published weekly on the government’s coronavirus website. The data management dashboard will be updated weekly until April 28.
This week’s report can be found here:
For the six-day period ending on 11 April:
- 6,912 positive PCR tests were performed in the laboratory
- there are 72 new hospital admissions due to COVID-19
- there are 14 deaths from COVID-19 reported in Panorama, the public health information system
- the average age of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the Omicron wave is 80 years
- the average length of hospital stay for COVID-19 was 6.8 days.
As of 14 April, 64.2% of Nova Scotians aged 18 and over had received a booster dose.
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