N.S. reports 1 COVID-19 death; 15 people hospitalized, 16 discharged

Nova Scotia reported one death and 15 new hospital admissionsdue to COVID-19 onTuesday.

The man who died was in his 80s and in the central zone. It is the province's 115thdeath pandemic-related death.

There are now 58 people in hospital with COVID-19 total, including four people in intensive care. Of the 58 people in hospital, 56 were admitted during the recent wave of the Omicron variant.

The province also reported 16 people have been discharged from the hospital.

The ages of people in hospital range from 39 to 100 years old. The average age is 67.

Premier Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, will give a COVID-19 update Wednesday at 3 p.m. AT.

The vaccination status of those in hospital is:

• Six (10.3per cent) people have had a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• Thirty-four(58.6per cent) are fully vaccinated (two doses).
• Three(5.2per cent)are partially vaccinated.
• Fifteen (25.9per cent) are unvaccinated.

Less than10 per cent of Nova Scotians are unvaccinated.

The province reported 616new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

There are 322 cases in central zone, 103 cases in eastern zone, 69 cases in northern zone and 112 cases in western zone.The province estimated6,796 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia as of Tuesday.

Red Cross to help in N.S. vaccination effort

There are more details about assistance Nova Scotia will receive from the Red Cross.

The federal government approved a request from the province last week to send 24 Canadian Red Cross personnel to help in Nova Scotia's vaccination effort.

Fourteen immunizers and 10 other staff will help set up a clinic able to administeran additional 1,000 doses per day in Halifax.

Last week, Premier Tim Houston told CBC's Power & Politicshe hopes to get the clinic up and running soon.

The Red Cross deployment is a part of a $150-million Public Safety Humanitarian Workforce Program that started last summer to support the Canadian Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations to provide help in response to COVID-19 outbreaks and other large-scale emergencies.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• Newfoundland and Labradorreported five people in hospital on Tuesday. There were also 750 new cases, including an additional 323that were from a testing backlog between Dec. 29 and Jan. 6. There are 6,211 active cases.
• Prince Edward Islandreported 304 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. There were 1,694active cases as of Tuesday. Sixpeople are in hospital being treated for COVID-19, one in intensive care.
• New BrunswickOn Tuesday, New Brunswick reported 88, including 14 people in intensive care.