Despite a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases and the lifting of restrictions, Nova Scotia doesn't appear to be completely in the clear.
“We still have a number of cases where a known cause of infection has not been identified and several of them are complex with a large number of contacts," said Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health at a live briefing Friday.
“There could still be a low level of undetected COVID-19 in the Halifax area … So, I remind people that it’s still important to get tested."
Strang said people should book a test whether they have multiple symptoms, one mild symptom, or if they have no symptoms but have been in contact with multiple groups through work or social activities.
On Thursday, Nova Scotia announced it was ending restrictions that came into place on Feb. 27 due to concerns of community spread. But in some cases, loosening the restrictions was conditional. For example, spectators at sport or performing arts events were allowed to return only in facilities that have an approved plan based on specific guidelines set by the Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage. Restrictions around long-term care residents remain unchanged.
Strang said these restrictions, which are in effect till March 27, are still necessary due to the potentially undetected COVID-19 in Halifax and surrounding areas.
Improved booking system for vaccines
For people who are 80 years or older and are still looking to book a COVID-19 vaccine, Strang said things will be better the next time around. The online booking system crashed soon after it was launched on Monday morning, leaving many people frustrated and without a vaccine appointment. People also struggled to get through the designated phone lines.
“Monday was not a good day for anyone who tried to book an appointment,” said Strang. “I recognize it was a frustrating and negative experience for many.”
The province is addressing the problem by dividing the age group into three groups based on their month of birth. On Monday, March 8, people born between Jan. 1 and April 31 will be able to book their appointments, said Strang. If anyone born outside these dates and age group tries to book an appointment on Monday, their information won’t be accepted.
Booking for people born between May and August and those born between September and December will open later this month. The timing will depend on how booking for the first group goes.
“I know people are anxious and want to get the vaccine and that’s great,” he said. “But we do need to be patient.”
AstraZeneca rollout in the works
At the briefing, Premier Iain Rankin said Doctors Nova Scotia and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia have worked out a plan to administer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at 26 clinics across the province.
The AstraZeneca clinics will be first come first served for Nova Scotians aged 50 to 64. People will be able to book their appointments online and will have the choice to get the AstraZeneca vaccine or wait later for another vaccine, said Strang.
More information will be available about the vaccine rollout next week.
Vaccine plan hinges on steady supply
On Thursday, Rankin said all Nova Scotians who want the COVID-19 vaccine will get the first dose by the end of June. The province had previously said most people would be vaccinated by September.
The announcement came after a recommendation by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to delay the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines by four months.
“This is an absolute game changer for us in Public Health,” said Strang.
The recommendation means that Nova Scotia will no longer have to hold back the second dose of vaccine. Strang said anyone who has a date booked to get their second dose will still get it at that date. Starting Monday, anyone booking their first dose will get their second dose 16 weeks later.
The new end-of-June goal depends on a steady vaccine supply. It can also change with how many people want to get the vaccine.
Strang said the goal is based on the province’s plan to vaccinate 80 per cent of the population. But if more people want to get the vaccine, and that's what he hopes for, it could take longer to get everyone their first doses. As more vaccines get approved, more Nova Scotians will have the chance to get vaccinated.
On Friday, Health Canada approved the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Strang said it’s too soon to say how exactly we'll be using the single-dose vaccine. But he said it could be used in vulnerable populations where going back for a second dose is difficult. Nova Scotia will be getting the vaccine sometime in April.
Two new cases
Two new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Nova Scotia on Friday.
Both are in the central health zone: one is a close contact of a previously reported case and the other case is under investigation.
Nova Scotia has 31 active cases of COVID-19, up two compared to yesterday: 23 are in the central zone, four in the eastern zone, three in the northern zone and one in the western zone.
#COVID19 testing in #Brooklyn, #NewMinas and #Spryfield. https://t.co/eOLD7D8ILc
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) March 5, 2021
Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 5,589 Nova Scotia tests on March 4, and 5,618 tests were administered between Feb. 26 and March 2 at rapid-testing pop-up sites in Eastern Passage, Halifax and Spryfield.
There have been 38,676 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. Of those, 14,395 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 239,100 tests. There have been 562 positive COVID-19 cases and 531 resolved cases. Three people are in hospital, which is down two compared to yesterday. One person is in intensive care.
