Nova Scotia reports 5 new COVID-19 cases Saturday

Nova Scotia reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

Theprovince now has 20 active cases.

Three of the new cases are in the western health zone and are connected to a case reported previously.

Two cases are in the central zone. Oneis related to travel outside the region and the other case is under investigation.

All of the new cases are self-isolating.

A case reported in the eastern zone Friday has been removed from the cumulative case count as it was previously diagnosed in another province.

In a news release, Premier Iain Rankin said that the higher case count illustrates the need to follow public health guidelines and to get tested.

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 2,004 COVID-19 tests on Friday.

Potential exposure notice

Nova Scotia Health issued an exposure notice on Saturday for an Air Canada flight from Montreal to Halifax.

Anyone who was on the following flight in the specified rows and seats should book a COVID-19 test on theself-assessment websiteor contact 811, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms.

• Air Canada Flight 8782departing from Montreal on March 6 (7:10p.m.) and arriving in Halifax (9:30 p.m.), passengers in rows 16-20, seats C, D, and F.Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through March 20.

Vaccine eligibility expands Monday

As of this Monday, anyone who is 80 or older and was born between Jan. 1and Aug. 31can book an appointment online, or by calling 1-833-797-7772to geta vaccine at a community clinic. Until Monday, only those aged 80 and older born between January and April areeligible.

Starting Tuesday, those who are 63 or 64 years oldcan get the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at a pharmacy or doctor's office by booking online or by phone at1-833-797-7772.

Bookings cannot be done in person and walk-ins will be turned away.

As of March 11, 46,891 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 15,655second doses.

Some regional restrictions eased

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador eased restrictions over the weekend,

Circuit-breaker measures were lifted on P.E.I. Saturday morning.

They were imposed in late February after a spike in COVID-19 cases among young people in Summerside and Charlottetown.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the majority of the province moved to Alert Level 3 of the pandemic response plan on Saturday,while the Avalon Peninsula moved toAlert Level 4.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported no new cases on Saturday for a total of 33known active cases. One person isin hospital related to COVID-19.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported no new cases on Saturday. The province has 53 known active cases, and three people are in hospital.
• P.E.I.reported nonewcases on Tuesday. There are 22known active cases on the Island.