N.S. reports 61 new cases of COVID-19, driven by new cluster in northern zone

Nova Scotia reported 61 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the active caseload in the province to 200.

Of the new cases, 33 are in the northern zone, 24are in the central zoneand fourare in the western zone.

The province said Tuesday thatmost of the new cases are linked toa new cluster in a localized community in the northern zone, and there's evidence of limited community spread in Halifax.

Thirteen people are now in hospital with COVID-19, including four in intensive care.

"While there is a low level of ongoing community transmission in the northern part of Nova Scotia, the higher case numbers we're seeing in the area yesterday and today are associated with a cluster of cases in a defined group of largely unvaccinated individuals," Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said in a news release.

"They are co-operating with local public health and the cases appear to be contained within this group."

None of the new cases are linked to East Cumberland Lodge long-term care home in Pugwash, which has beenthe site of an outbreak.A total of 32 residents and 11 staff members at the home have tested positive, and four of the infected residents have died.

Vaccine mandate deadline reached

People who work for the Nova Scotia government and its agencies have until the end of the dayTuesdayto meet the province's vaccine mandate.

Staffemployed in health care, educationand the public service are required to have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with a plan for a second.People who do not have a doseor have not said they plan to be vaccinatedwill be placed on unpaid leave beginning Wednesday.

Provincial officials said in a news release Tuesday that 99 per cent of people covered by the mandate have at least one dose.

According to Tuesday's update, 81.4 per cent of Nova Scotians have been double-vaccinated and20,858 eligible Nova Scotians have received a third dose.

Exposures at schools

Several schools have received exposure notifications since Monday includingCentral Colchester Junior High inCentral Onslow,Valley Elementary School in Valley, andBeechville Lakeside Timberlea Senior Elementary in Timberlea.The province maintains a list of school exposures here.

On Wednesday, the public health mobile unit will be on site at DucD'Anville Elementary to offer free PCR testing for all ages between 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. PCR swish and gargle tests will be offered to people ages four to 18.

The testing there is free and available to anyone in thecommunity.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported one death and 46 new cases Monday. The province has 706 active cases, with 64 peoplein hospital, including 17in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported nine new casesMonday. The province has 21active cases andone person is in hospital.
• Prince Edward Islandreported one new caseTuesday. The province has 29 active cases. Twenty-eight of the province's active cases are tied to a cluster of cases that began about three weeks ago.