Nova Scotia is reporting 52 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 recoveries.
There are 29 cases in the Halifax area, 18 cases in the Antigonish region, three cases in Northern Zone and two cases in Western Zone.
There are 38 new cases being reported on Thursday, and 59 in total so far, related to the outbreak at StFX University in Antigonish.
So far, those infected are experiencing very mild symptoms because the cases are mostly young people who are fully vaccinated.
Officials expect more new cases in the coming days.
The university reports that about 95 per cent of the student body is vaccinated.
There has been no evidence of spread in classrooms or residences to date, and no secondary transmission in the community.
Currently, the investigation has found the majority of spread happened in smaller, private gatherings. Most cases are related to those who attended activities December 2-5, both on and off campus. There is an ongoing enforcement investigation.
The university, students and community have been very cooperative and are complying with public health investigation advice, including testing. To help with finding cases, Nova Scotia Health’s testing centre has increased its hours of operation, the Public Health Mobile Unit will be in the community over the next several days and take-home test kits are being distributed by Nova Scotia Health and the university.
“Our priority right now is supporting those who are positive and containing any further spread on campus and in the community,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The vaccine is doing its job by limiting spread and keeping symptoms mild, so this outbreak is very different from what we’ve seen in previous wave 4 outbreaks. Our concern level is lower because of wide-spread vaccinations and the symptoms we are seeing. It is important that community members and students diligently practice public health measures, especially masking and isolation if need be, and get tested if they have symptoms and attended any of the activities or had interactions with the people involved. A thank you to the people who have quickly come forward to be tested.”
Nova Scotia has 194 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, nine people are in hospital, including four in ICU.
