7 COVID-19 deaths in Nova Scotia mark highest reported single-day death count

Nova Scotia reported seven deaths from COVID-19on Monday, marking the highest death count reported ona single day since the pandemic began.

There are 68 people receiving treatment in COVID-19 designated hospital units.

The age range for peoplein hospital is nine to 93 years old,and the medianageis 66.

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 1,554tests on Sunday and found 158new cases of the coronavirus. There are 57 cases in the central zone, 39 cases inthe eastern zone, 31 cases in thenorthern zone,and31in the western zone.

On Friday, Nova Scotia reported its youngest COVID-19 death,a child between fiveand 11.

Since the Omicron wave began onDec. 8, 65 NovaScotianshave died because ofCOVID-19.

As of Monday, there were an estimated 2,661 active cases ofCOVID-19 in Nova Scotia.

The seven deaths reported Monday were all in the province's western health zone and include:

• A man in his 60s.
• Two men and a woman in their 70s.
• A woman and man in their 80s.
• A man in his 90s.

Unvaccinated Nova Scotiansare about fivetimes more likely to be hospitalizeddue to COVID-19 than someone with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. That is based on average hospitalizations since the province started releasing daily hospitalization numbers by vaccine status on Jan. 4.

Unvaccinated people arealso about six times as likely to die of COVID-19 during the Omicron wavethan someone who had received a booster dose, based on numbers provided by the province and last updated on Friday.

The vaccination status of the 68 people being treated in COVID-19 designated hospital units is:

• 18 (26.5 per cent) people have had a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• 23 (33.8 per cent) are fully vaccinated (two doses).
• One (1.5 per cent) is partially vaccinated.
• 26 (38.2 per cent) are unvaccinated.

The province said Monday that 85.6 per cent of Nova Scotia's population has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 91.6 per cent have had one dose.

Hundreds of Nova Scotia Health staff off work

According to Nova Scotia Health, 436 employees were off work as of Monday because theyeither tested positive for COVID-19, wereawaiting results of a test, or they hadbeen exposed to someone in their household who has tested positive. That's 10 more people off work than NSH reported last week.

The breakdown of those absences are as follows:

• Western zone: 100.
• Central zone: 183.
• Northern zone: 74.
• Eastern zone: 79.

There aretwo other groups of people in hospital related to COVID-19:

• 132 people who were identified as positive upon arrival at hospital but were admitted for another medical reason, or were admitted forCOVID-19but no longer require specialized care.
• 156 people who contractedCOVID-19 after being admitted to hospital.

The province also released information Monday relating to COVID-19 outbreaks at certain hospitals.

There are new outbreaks in wards at three hospitals:

• Cape Breton Regional Hospital wherefewer than 10 patients have tested positive.
• Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville wherefewer than five patients have tested positive.
• St. Mary's Memorial Hospital in Sherbrooke wherefewer than five patients have tested positive.

The province is also reporting additional cases at existing hospital outbreaks:

• Seven additional patients in a ward at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in Amherst.Fewer than 10 patients have tested positive.
• Three additional patients in a ward at Hants Community Hospital in Windsor. Fewer than 10 patients have tested positive.
• One additional patient in a separate ward at Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Fewer than five patients have tested positive.