'Heading in the right direction': Nova Scotia reports 86 new COVID-19 cases Saturday

Nova Scotia announced 86new cases and 115 recoveries in Saturday's COVID-19 update.

The last time the province reported fewer than 100 new daily caseswas April 30, just days after the province went into lockdown to help prevent the spread of the virus.

"I'm pleased to see that our new case number is a double-digit figure for the first time in more than two weeks," Premier Iain Rankin said in a news release from the Department of Health.

"Thanks to the sacrifices of Nova Scotians, we're seeing hopeful signs of a downward trend. However, we must stick with the restrictions and public health measures to stop the spread while we continue to vaccinate more and more Nova Scotians."

There are 66new cases in the central health zone, includinga staff member at The Ivy Meadows, a long-term care facility in Beaver Bank.

While most residents have been fully vaccinated, Public Health has advised residents and staff in the affected unit to be tested for COVID-19.

There are also 11 new cases in the eastern health zone, five in the northern zone and four in the western zone.

The new cases were identified among 10,272tests completed by Nova Scotia Heath labs on Friday.

The province now has 1,509known active cases.

"Today's new case number shows that things are heading in the right direction, and the hard work we're doing is helping to slow the spread," Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said in the release.

"We all must continue to follow the public health protocols to bring those numbers down and be in a position to start re-opening in June."

There have been more hospitalizations in Nova Scotia in the third wave of the pandemic than in the first and second waves combined.

There are now 96people in hospital, including 23in intensive care. Current hospitalizations include people in their early 20s to people in their 90s.

According to the Department of Health, the median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 55 for non-ICU, and 58 for people in ICU.

Increase in testing, vaccinations

At Friday's COVID-19 briefing, Strangsaid there are a few communitieswith clusters of cases outside the central zone.They are Sydney, Bridgewater, and the Annapolis Valley from Middleton to Kentville.

Broadtesting will be available in those communitiesin the coming days to determine if there are casesin those communities Public Health is not yet aware of.

Nova Scotia's vaccine rolloutis "slightly ahead of schedule," Strang said, adding thatleast 45 per cent of all eligible peoplehave received one or both doses.

Vaccination appointmentsopened to people 35 to 39 on Friday.

As of Thursday, 415,570 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 38,830 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.

Anti-mask rally cancelled

On Friday, Nova Scotia was granted an injunction toblock all anti-public health order protests, including an anti-mask rally that was planned for Saturday in Halifax.

The ban preventsFreedom Nova Scotia and similar groupsfrom staging illegal gatherings in defiance of Nova Scotia's public health orders.

The injunction also allows police to arrest and detain individuals attending these gatherings, as it would be a clear violation of a court order.

Although organizers cancelled the event, Halifax Regional Police did intervene when a handfulof protesters showed up at Citadel Hill Saturday afternoon.

The injunction will remain in effect until the provincial state of emergency is lifted.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported seven new cases on Saturday. There are now 113active cases. Eleven people arehospital, including two in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported five new cases on Saturday for a total of 78active cases. One person is in hospital.
• P.E.I.reported one new caseon Saturday. The new case is an individual in their20swho is a close contact of a previously announced case related to a child-carecentre. The province has 10 active cases.