Nova Scotia reporting 182 new COVID-19 cases Thursday

Nova Scotia reported a new daily high of182 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, for a total of 1,309active cases in the province.

There are 155new cases in the central health zone, 16 in the eastern zone, four in the western zone and seven in the northern zone.

There are now 45people in hospital, includingninein intensive care.

The newcases reported Thursdaywere identified among 7,733 tests completed the day before.

The province won't be providing a COVID-19 briefing Thursday, but an update is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. AT.

Backlog of data entry

Nova Scotiareportedhigh daily case numbers this week, which has beenattributed to a backlog of thousands of unprocessed tests.

The backlog was resolved as of Wednesday, but work is still being done to clear a backlog in case contact and data entry.

On Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 175 cases, which Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said was a reflection of the delay in data entry.

In a news release, Premier Iain Rankin urged Nova Scotians to heed public health advice toavoid gatherings and stay at home.

"The third wave is driven by variants and they spread faster and easier," he said.

Nova Scotia's vaccination drive continues with347,283 doses of the vaccine administered, including37,346 second doses as of May 5.

Restrictions expected to continue

Nova Scotia has been under a strict two-week lockdown sinceApril 28, which closed all public schools and non-essential businesses.

Although restrictions were scheduled to lift next week, Strangsaid Tuesdayit's a"safe assumption" restrictions will be extended.

Rankin also alluded to possible stronger restrictions after cabinet onThursday.

"This is different than the first wave and second wave with the variants," he said. "And if Dr. Strang and Public Health have other restrictions they think will help, I won't hesitate to put them in."

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported 11 new cases and one new death on Thursday. Ten of the new cases areworkers who are isolating outside the province. There's now 142active cases. Six people are in hospital, two in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported six new COVID-19 cases Thursday. There are 58active cases in the province. Two people are in hospital with the virus.
• P.E.I.announced two new cases Thursdayand the number of active cases is now nine.