Nova Scotia reported 65 new cases of COVID-19 and 184 recoveries on Thursday. There are 41 cases in Central Zone, 15 in Eastern Zone, seven in Northern Zone and two in Western Zone.Nova Scotia has 1,143 active cases of COVID-19. There are 87 people in hospital, including 20 in ICU. The median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 57 for non-ICU, and 59 for people in ICU. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang says the restrictions are working and that is reflected in the case numbers. But he says they are still much higher than they need to be for restrictions to be eased. For this long weekend, Dr. Strange is asking that everyone stay in their communities as this is not the time to travel. Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Strang will provide an update today at 2 p.m.
Nova Scotians aged 25 and older can now book appointments for the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at clinics across the province. Appointments for COVID-19 vaccines in community clinics and participating pharmacies will be released on a continuous basis as vaccine supply is confirmed. COVID-19 vaccination appointments must be made online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vaccination or by phone at 1-833-797-7772. Appointments cannot be booked directly through a community clinic, pharmacy or physician. Walk-ins will be turned away. There are about 61,400 eligible Nova Scotians in the 25 to 29 age group
The province says more than $1.75 million in emergency funding will be deposited in the bank accounts of child-care centres across the province by today. That’s to ensure centres remain viable while capacity is capped at 60 per cent under COVID-19 restrictions. The money covers staffing and operational costs. When the province announced lockdown restrictions in April, the funding was promised to the sector to replace fees paid by parents who chose to keep their children at home temporarily. Financial support will continue as long as necessary at an estimated cost of $850,000 per week.
There’s no change in gas prices in Nova Scotia, however diesel prices did drop overnight by 7/10ths of a cent in most zones. So, locally, the minimum price for regular self-serve gas remains 129.7 cents per litre and diesel is an even 118-cents per litre.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre is predicting another active hurricane season this year, citing the persistence of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures. Meteorologist Bob Robichaud also says a storm brewing in the middle of the Atlantic has a 90 per cent chance of becoming the first named storm of the season over the next five days — even though the season doesn’t start until June 1st. The U-S-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also calls for a busy season, saying there could be between 13 and 20 named storms this year, which could include between six and 10 more powerful hurricanes. An average season produces about 14 tropical storms and seven hurricanes.
