Nova Scotia reports 4 new COVID-19 cases Monday

Nova Scotia reported four new cases ofCOVID-19 on Monday.

There are three new cases in the eastern health zone. One is a close contact of a previously reported case and the other two are under investigation.

There's also one new case in the central zone. It is under investigation.

There are now 57known active cases in the province. Two people are in hospital with the virus with none in intensive care.

Nova Scotia Health labs completed3,029COVID-19 tests on Sunday.

Premier Iain Rankin said although vaccine uptake is high,the province is aiming to vaccinate at least 85 per cent of eligible Nova Scotians.

"If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to get your first dose as soon as possible to protect your loved ones and your community,"Rankin said in a news release Monday.

As of Sunday, 876,217 doses of COVID-19 vaccine hadbeen administered. Of those, 172,910 Nova Scotians had received asecond dose.

Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, are expected to provide an update on COVID-19 on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Town hall meeting covers next steps for N.S.

During a virtual town hall meeting Monday evening, Strang said Phase 3 shouldbegin Wednesday "unless something very bizarre happens in the next 24 hours."

Gathering limits will stay the same in the next phase, but the big change is that people from outside the Atlantic area can travel into Nova Scotia under restrictions tied to their vaccine coverage.

However, Strang said more details on Phase 3 would be coming during Tuesday's briefing and added that "we'll be increasing kind of the informal gathering household numbers" and formal gathering numbers.

Rankin, who also took part in meeting, was asked when international flights could return to Nova Scotia.

He said much of that depends on how things look after July 5, when the federal government has said fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents can enter Canada without isolating.

"I'm optimistic that sometime in July we'll see some international travel with careful restrictions," Rankin said.

Strang noted that as of Monday, the province has hit about 74 per cent of the total population with at least one dose of vaccine, and 15 per cent of those are two doses.

The walk-in vaccine clinic at the Halifax Convention Centre, starting Tuesday, is one way to boost vaccine uptake for those who haven't yet gotten their first dose, Strang said.

The plan is to hold more throughout the province soon, and likely that model will eventually be used for second doses as well.

Rescheduling 2nd doses

Nova Scotia continues to move up appointments for second doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

On Monday, the province announced that people whoreceived their first vaccine dose on or before May 30, and are scheduled to receive their second dose on or before Sept. 12, can reschedule for an earlier date.

People will be able to choose an earlier date and time, and also which vaccine they'd like to receive as their second dose.

Everyone who provided an email for their first dose will get a noticewhen it's their time to reschedule. Those who did not provide an email when they signed up for their first dosecan call 1-833-797-7772 to add one.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported one new caseMonday. It has 26 active cases.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported one new caseon Monday. It has six active cases.
• P.E.I.has reported no new cases since June 3. There are no active cases.