New cases drop to single digits

Death of middle-aged man reported

The number of new COVID19 cases in Nova Scotia has dropped to its lowest level since early April.

Most of the eight new cases are related to close contacts of previous cases or travel.

“This week's cases are consistently low and today is the first single-digit reporting since April 9,” Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said at a news briefing with Premier Iain Rankin.

“That's a reminder of how far we've come in a relatively short period of time.”

Six of the new cases are in the central zone. Three are close contacts of previous cases. Two are related to travel and one is under investigation.

Two new cases are in the eastern zone and are close contacts of previous cases.

The number of active cases also continues to drop. There are now 143 after 11 more people recovered from their cases.

89TH DEATH

But the province also reported that a man in his 50s in the central health zone had died, marking the 89th COVID-19 related death in Nova Scotia since the pandemic began.

Strang also noted that the National Microbiology Lab

in Winnipeg had confirmed two Delta variant cases in Nova Scotia. These cases were previously reported and both were related to travel but Strang said the high contagiousness of this strain is a concern.

“They were isolating at the time and there's no further spread but we do have to be aware that other provinces where the Delta variant is becoming more predominant and have caution.”

ANOTHER CASE AT CITADEL HIGH

Although it was not mentioned at Friday's news briefing, a third case of COVID-19 has been detected at Citadel High School in Halifax.

In an email to parents, principal Joe Morrison said the potential exposure could have happened on June 7 and/or 8.

“Public Health is now working to identify any staff and students who may have been in close contact with the confirmed case,” Morrison said. “If your child is identified as a close contact, Public Health will communicate with you directly.”

Morrison said because the building had been thoroughly cleaned since the dates of potential exposure, a reopening plan for Monday remained in place but that would be confirmed over the weekend.

In a letter to the school community, Nova Scotia public health recommended all students and staff get tested for COVID-19.

A parent told The Chronicle Herald three emails had been sent out about cases at the school this week. The parent said they had heard the cases were in a Grade 11 class.

The Education Department would not confirm there was a third case. A spokeswoman responded with an email containing links to news releases on the previous two cases.

VACCINATION STATS

Nova Scotia now issues weekly reports on the vaccination status of people who get COVID-19. There have been

4,009 COVID-19 cases from March 15 to June 8, 2021:

• 25 (0.6 per cent) were fully vaccinated

• 206 (5.1 per cent) were partially vaccinated

• 3,778 (94.2 per cent) were unvaccinated

There were 247 people hospitalized:

• 2 (0.8 per cent) were fully vaccinated

• 26 (10.5 per cent) were partially vaccinated

• 219 (88.7 per cent) were unvaccinated Twenty-two people have died:

• 1 (4.5 per cent) was fully vaccinated

• 2 (9.1 per cent) were partially vaccinated

• 19 (86.4 per cent) were unvaccinated

SCALED DOWN GRADS

There will be no large programs or community gatherings to celebrate high school graduation this year, Strang said.

“Any community celebrations for graduates will need to follow the reopening protocols,” he said. “We hope to soon be in the second phase of reopening and in that phase there can be formal gatherings of up to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.”

Strang ruled out “drive-in” graduation ceremonies, which parents in some communities such as Truro want to hold. He said the potential for people getting out of their cars and interacting with others is too risky.

He suggested alternatives such as “drive-past” events.

“Graduates can be sitting outside properly distanced while family and community members in their vehicles drive by to honour the graduates' accomplishments,” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS

As of today, Nova Scotia has 143 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, 10 people are in hospital COVID-19 units, including six in ICU. The median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 53 for nonicu and 55 for people in ICU.

On June 10, Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 4,918 tests.

There were 15,734 tests administered between June 4 and 10 at the rapid-testing pop-up sites in Sydney, Bridgewater, Dartmouth and Halifax.

As of June 10, 678,615 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 47,930 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.

Since April 1, there have been 3,987 positive COVID19 cases and 23 deaths. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. There have been 3,821 resolved cases.