Nova Scotia is reporting nine COVID-19 deaths in the past week and a daily average of 250 lab-confirmed cases in its latest provincial dashboard update.
The figures are for a seven-day period from June 28 to July 4.
Positive PCR tests totaled 1,749, up from 1,491 last week. This number does not include positive rapid test results.
As of March 2020, there have been 451 deaths from COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. About three-quarters of these deaths occurred during the Omicron wave, which began on December 8, 2021.
Nova Scotia Health says 26 people are in hospital with COVID-19 to date, with seven in intensive care. This is an increase from last week when there were 21 people in hospital with three in intensive care.
Another 119 people currently have COVID-19 but are in the hospital for another reason, according to health officials. A further 58 people contracted COVID-19 after being admitted to hospital.
The province no longer publishes weekly reports on COVID-19 with details such as age ranges of those who died or cases of COVID-19 in long-term or residential care. Starting this week, these reports will be issued monthly.
The province continues to issue weekly respiratory disease reports as it has done for many years. These reports describe levels of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, but do not include details about COVID-19 activity.
Health worker walkout due to COVID-19
This week there was a 67% increase in Nova Scotia health staff who are not sick or in isolation due to COVID-19, to 237 employees.
Every part of the province saw an uptick, but the Central Zone, which includes Halifax, saw the biggest jump, with 138 out of work compared to 90 last week.
COVID-19 restrictions lifted
On Wednesday, the province lifted all remaining community restrictions against COVID-19. As of July 6, five-day isolation is “strongly recommended” but not mandatory for people who test positive for COVID-19.
Most restrictions in high-risk settings will remain.
Long-term care homes, correctional facilities, shelters and transitional homes will maintain a seven-day isolation period for residents who test positive for COVID-19.
Health workers will still have to stay away from work for seven days if they test positive for the virus.
People who are sick are still being asked to avoid high-risk spaces, as are other people who are more vulnerable. If people who are sick must go out, they must wear a well-fitting mask. Masks continue to be recommended for everyone in crowded indoor spaces, including public transportation.
Second booster bookings for people 50-69
Beginning Friday, July 8, Nova Scotians ages 50 to 69 will be able to book a second COVID-19 booster online or by phone during the day at 1-833-797-7772. People do not need appointments for reception clinics offering the booster.
However, Nova Scotia Public Health says people should wait until the fall, when a new vaccine may be available that works better against the Omicron variant.
“Our advice is to wait because the first booster still offers strong protection against severe disease for most people in this age group. COVID-19 activity is relatively stable right now, but we expect to have a resurgence later this fall or winter, when we typically see peaks in respiratory viruses,” Dr. Shelly Dix, deputy chief medical officer for health, said in a release for the media.
The province also announced Thursday that more immunocompromised Nova Scotians will be eligible for an extra dose of the vaccine starting July 8.
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