48 hospitalized with COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, with 9 in ICU

Nova Scotia announced 745 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with 48people in hospital, including nine in the ICU.

Of those in hospital:

• Four (8.3per cent) have had a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• 28 (58.3 per cent)have had two doses.
• Two (4.2 per cent) are partially vaccinated.
• 14 (29.2 per cent)are unvaccinated.

Only10 per cent of Nova Scotians are unvaccinated, according to the province.

The province also said in a news release Thursday that those hospitalized range in age from 26 to 94 years old, with the average being 68. Of the 48 people in hospital, 44 were admitted during the Omicron wave.

Hospitalizations arewell below those reported duringthe spring wave of COVID-19. More than 100 people were in hospital due to the virus at one point in May.

According to the provincial COVID-19 dashboard, about 84 per cent of people hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 15 to Dec. 17were unvaccinated.

The province continues to roll out its booster doses and said it is bringing in 25 members of the Canadian Red Crossto help in the boostereffort across Nova Scotia in the coming weeks.

Nova Scotia Health also reported a newoutbreak at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. Fewer than five patients at the facility have tested positive, said the province.

There are also additional cases related to outbreaks at the following hospitals:

• Four additional cases at the Halifax Infirmaryfor a total of 16 patients who have tested positive.
• Six additional cases ina ward at New Waterford Consolidated Hospital wherethere are now 11 patients who have tested positive.
• One additional patient in a ward at the Victoria General site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre where fewer than five people at the facility have tested positive.

New self-isolation requirements

The province also announced new rules around self-isolationon Wednesday for people who testpositive for COVID-19 or are close contacts. The new rules begin Friday at 6 a.m. AT.

Of the new cases reported on Thursday,459 cases are in central zone, 128 cases are in eastern zone, 95cases are in western zone and 63cases are in northern zone.

Coast guard shipoutbreak update

The Canadian Coast Guard ship Jean Goodwillremains docked in Dartmouth after an outbreak was reported Christmas Eve.

In a statement emailed on Thursday, the coast guard said deep cleaning of the vessel has been completed.

"Crew members who have recovered and have been in isolation 10 days or morehave started to return to the vessel," it said.

No one was hospitalized and the number of people who testedpositivewas not provided.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 503 new cases Thursday for a total of 4,059 active cases. There are four peoplein hospital.
• Prince Edward Islandreported 204 new cases Thursday. There are 1,491 active cases.Four people are in hospital being treated for COVID-19, one in intensive care. There are threepeople in hospital for other reasons who have tested positive for COVID-19.
• New Brunswickreported one death and 672 new cases on Thursday. There are 63 people in hospital, including 19 in intensive care.