More than half of new COVID-19 cases still under investigation

Nova Scotia public health reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 in the province Wednesday, with the source of more than half of those still not known.

The bulk of the new cases — 14 in all — are in the central zone, with nine still under investigation. The rest are close contacts of previous cases.

Public health said there continues to be signs of community spread among people between the ages of 20 and 40 years who are unvaccinated and participating in social activities.

One of two cases in the eastern zone is still under investigation, with the other a close contact of a previous case.

Both cases in the northern zone are close contacts of previous cases, and the only case in the western zone is still under investigation.

Almost half the new cases reported Tuesday were also still under investigation.

There have been 29 additional recoveries, leaving 127 active cases in the province. Ten of those people are in hospital, an increase of one from Tuesday.

"You only have to look at our case numbers to see that most people contracting COVID-19 have not been vaccinated," chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang, said in a release. "Vaccination is the absolute best way to protect yourself and those around you. To everyone who is fully vaccinated, thank you. To all those who are not, please don't wait."

On Tuesday, Nova Scotia Health labs completed 4,182 tests.

As of Tuesday, 1,490,853 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. with, 716,551 Nova Scotians having received their second dose.