18 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Friday, September 17

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Overview
Vaccination
Demographics
Testing
Potential exposure advisories

Nova Scotia announced 18 new cases of COVID-19 today, Friday, September 17.

Of the new cases:
• 12 are in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone — 10 are close contacts of previously reported cases, 2 are under investigation
• 5 are in the Northern Zone — 4 close contacts, 1 travel
• 1 is in the Western Zone — travel

There are now 162 known active cases in the province. Four people are in hospital with the disease, but not in ICU. Twenty-nine people are considered newly recovered, which means they are no longer contagious and not necessarily that they aren’t sick.

Vaccination

Yesterday, 2,441 doses of vaccine were administered — 1,428 second doses and 1,013 first doses. A total of 1,480,851 doses of vaccine have been administered, of which 711,312 were second doses. As of end of day yesterday, 79.2% of the entire population (including young children) have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 73.2% have received two doses.

However, the approximately 8,000 military personnel stationed in Nova Scotia were vaccinated through the military’s vaccination program and are not included in the above percentages; if they are included, then the double-dosed percentage increases to 74.0% of the entire population.

The province will likely hit the 75% threshold sometime next week if military people are included, and sometime the following week if not. Either way, that threshold will be met by the Phase 5 reopening now scheduled for Oct. 4

The graph above shows the progress of vaccination over time, as captured weekly on Fridays. The blue line is people with one dose only; the green line is people with two doses (the brown line adds in military personnel with two doses); the yellow line is people with at least one dose, and the orange line represents 75% of the entire population.

Between March 15 and Sept. 16, 2021, there were 4,609 new cases of COVID. Of those:
• 99 (2.1%) were fully vaccinated
• 275 (6.0%) were partially vaccinated
• 4,235 (91.9%) were unvaccinated

Over the same period, 260 people hospitalized. Of those:
• 3 (1.1%) were fully vaccinated
• 28 (10.8%) were partially vaccinated
• 229 (88.1%) were unvaccinated

Over the same period, 28 people died. Of those:
• 1 (3.6%) was fully vaccinated
• 3 (10.7%) were partially vaccinated
• 24 (85.7%) were unvaccinated

People 12 years old and older can also book a vaccination appointmenthere.

People in rural areas who need transportation to a vaccination appointment should contactRural Rides, which will get you there and back home for just $5. You need to book the ride 24 hours ahead of time.

Demographics

Of the 18 latest cases:
• 2 are aged 0-12
• 11 are aged 20-39
• 2 are aged 40-59
• 1 is aged 60-79
• 2 are 80 or older

The active cases across the province are distributed as follows:

Central Zone
• 34 in the Halifax Peninsula/Chebucto Community Health Network
• 18 in the Dartmouth/Southeastern Community Health Network
• 8 in the Bedford/Sackville Community Health Network
• 0 in the Eastern Shore/Musquodoboit Community Health Network
• 0 in the West Hants Community Health Network
• 2 not assigned to a Community Health Network
Total: 62

Eastern Zone
• 2 in the Cape Breton Community Health Network
• 0 in the Inverness, Victoria & Richmond Community Health Network
• 2 in the Antigonish & Guysborough Community Health Network
Total: 4

Northern Zone
• 63 in the Colchester/East Hants Community Health Network
• 5 in the Pictou Community Health Network
• 24 in the Cumberland Community Health Network
Total: 92

Western Zone
• 3 in the Annapolis and Kings Community Health Network
• 0 in the Lunenburg & Queens Community Health Network
• 1 in the Yarmouth, Shelburne & Digby Community Health Network
Total: 4

Testing

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 3,849 PCR tests yesterday. This does not include the antigen tests administered by the pop-up testing sties, or those conducted at home.

You do not need a health card to get tested.

Pop-up testing (antigen testing) is for asymptomatic people over 16 who have not been to the potential COVID exposure sites (see map below); results usually within 20 minutes. Pop-up testinghas been scheduledfor the following sites:

Saturday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-7pm
Dartmouth Summer Sunshine Series, 5:30-7pm

Sunday
Halifax Convention Centre, noon-7pm
Dartmouth Summer Sunshine Series, 1:30-3:30pm

You can volunteer to work at the pop-up testing siteshereorhere. No medical experience is necessary.

You can also get PCR testing at the Nova Scotia Health labs by goinghere.Appointments can be made for the IWK, or for various locations in each of the health zones (appointments may not be available at each site).