N.S. reports 111 cases of COVID-19 over weekend, outbreak at Pugwash nursing home

Nova Scotia reported 111 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the active caseload to 255. 

Fifty-two of the new cases are in the western zone, 31 cases in central zone, 19 cases in northern zone and nine cases in eastern zone.

According to Nova Scotia Health, the increase in case numbers is related to community spread in Amherst and Cumberland County, as well as ongoing transmission from a faith-based gathering in both the western and northern zones.

This includes secondary transmission to other faith-based gatherings, workplaces and to East Cumberland Lodge long-term care home in Pugwash. The long-term care home is now closed to visitors.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Shelley Deeks said around 100 people attended the faith-based gathering and that the event was held over the course of a few days. She said leaders in the community have been cooperating with contact tracing and the investigation.

"I fully expect we'll see more cases from the faith-based gathering," Deeks told reporters at a Monday afternoon news conference, where she filled in for Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang who is taking the week off. 

Watch the full news conference below:

Long-term care home outbreak

The province is reporting an outbreak at the long-term care facility — so far four residents and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19. One of the four residents who tested positive is in hospital and the province is working with the home to prevent the spread. The long-term care home has 74 beds and 100 per cent of the residents are fully vaccinated.

The province is awaiting some test results from the home that will give a clearer picture of how many people have been infected. 

Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams said there are 116 staff at the long-term care home, and 96 per cent of the staff have reported they are fully vaccinated. That leaves approximately five staff who have either not been fully vaccinated or have not reported their status. 

"This current situation underlines the importance of getting vaccinated and following public health direction," Adams said.

Neither Deeks nor Adams would comment if the worker who was infected was vaccinated, citing privacy concerns.

Nine people are now in hospital with COVID-19, including one in intensive care.

Labs in the province processed completed 2,379 COVID-19 tests on Friday, Nov. 5; 3,302 tests on Saturday, Nov. 6; and 2,068 tests on Sunday, Nov. 7.

As of Monday's report, 78.9 per cent of Nova Scotians had been fully vaccinated.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswick reported 44 new cases Monday. The province has 504 active cases, with 17 people in hospital, including nine in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported nine new cases Monday. The province has 36 active cases.
• Prince Edward Island reported four new cases Sunday. The province has seven active cases.

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