Nova Scotia is reporting 1,420 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, 37 hospitalizations and seven deaths during the seven-day period ending June 20. The number of new PCR-positive tests has decreased compared to the previous reporting period; however, hospital admissions have increased.
“It is encouraging to see that we have another week with decreasing COVID-19 activity,” said Dr. Shelley Deeks, Nova Scotia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health. “We have learned a lot about this virus over the last two years. As the weather gets better, I encourage people to have gatherings outdoors where possible, continue to wash your hands, use cough and sneeze etiquette and, most importantly, if you’re sick, stay home.”
People 70 years of age and older continue to be at highest risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Since the start of the Omicron waves December 8, 2021, the median age of hospitalizations is 71, and the median age of people who have died is 81. All of the COVID-19 deaths reported this week were people 70 years of age or older.
The data show that age is the biggest risk factor for severe disease and that vaccines are continuing to work. The risk of hospitalization is nearly 11 times higher for people 70 and older and the risk of death about 115 times higher when compared to those under 50. Within every age group for whom vaccine is available, unvaccinated people are at higher risk of severe illness than those who are vaccinated. Vaccine-related immunity wanes more quickly in people 70 and older, which is why a second booster dose was recommended this spring. Most adults under 70 are still well protected against severe illness by their two-dose primary series plus one booster.
Nova Scotians who are not up to date on recommended vaccines are still encouraged to receive all doses for which they are eligible.
To date, 65.8 per cent of Nova Scotians 18 and older have received at least one booster dose, and 74,159 people have received a second.
The weekly COVID-19 epidemiologic summary is prepared for the Chief Medical Officer of Health and his team to inform public health’s management of the pandemic. It tracks weekly trends and is focused on monitoring for severe outcomes in key populations. The full report is available here: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/alerts-notices/#epidemiologic-summaries
Additional Resources:
COVID-19 public dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/204d6ed723244dfbb763ca3f913c5cad
Report a positive COVID-19 test to be linked to public health support, including virtual care and treatment for those who are eligible: https://c19hc.nshealth.ca/self-report/
Source: Release