N.S. reports 689 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday
CBC
Nova Scotia reported 689 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.
There are 498 cases in the central zone, 79 cases in the northern zone, 57 cases in the western zone and 55 cases in the eastern zone.
Fourteen people are in hospital, including four in intensive care. The hospitalizations are up by four from yesterday.
The province reported an outbreak at Roseway Manor in Shelburne, N.S. Thursday. Two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, but neither has had contact with residents. All staff at the facility are fully vaccinated, and 98 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated and have had a booster shot.
No new cases have been reported at locations of outbreaks at other long-term care facilities and health-care facilities, including:
The province's COVID-19 tracking website had been experiencing data delays for days but was back online Thursday.
As of Thursday, the province is changing how it reports COVID-19 data.
During most of the pandemic, data has been reported from Public Health's disease information system, called Panorama.
But since the case numbers started to rise earlier this month, the province instead started reporting the number of positive lab test results. Due to a backlog in entering data into Panorama, the province says releasing the number of positive lab test results more accurately reflects the reality.
However, lab test results can contain duplicate results in cases when someone is tested more than once, as may be the case if someone requires repeat lab tests in order to travel or before making changes in clinical management.
Starting Thursday, duplicate results will be removed from reported case numbers, so each case will only be counted the first time someone tests positive. From Monday to Friday, the duplicates will be removed, but on weekends and holidays, a small number of duplicates may be included. Those duplicates will be removed following weekends and holidays.
There will be no reports on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.
The changes in reporting are expected to last four to six weeks, after which time the province will revert to using data from Panorama.
The province announced changes to its testing strategy for COVID-19. Starting Dec. 27, lab-based PCR testing will be available to people who are symptomatic or a close contact, and one of the following:
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