3 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Nova Scotia on Wednesday

Nova Scotia reportedthreenew cases of COVID-19 on Wednesdayafter completing a record number of daily tests for the second day in a row.

Nova Scotia Health's labs completed 6,875 tests on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Department of Health and Wellness. That's up from 5,146 tests on Monday.

"This is an indication of the strong uptake in testing among Nova Scotians," Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health,said in the release.

"Let's continue to make testing a part of our regular COVID-19 prevention measures."

Two of thenew cases are in the central zone,while the thirdis in the northern zone. All are close contacts of previously reported cases. There are now 30 known active cases in the province.

Four people are currently in hospital related to COVID-19, with two of them in intensive care.

Vaccine rollout on track

As of Tuesday, 35,291 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in the province, and13,512 Nova Scotianshad received their second shot.

Next week, the province will receive 13,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxfordvaccine, the third COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by Health Canada. It's slated to be used onNova Scotiansaged 50 to 64 on a first-come, first-served basis.

The province announcedTuesday thatCOVID-19 vaccines willbe made available in pharmacies, with four locations set to open prototype clinics this month.

Vaccine eligibility will also expand to include more health-care workers.The province is still expecting all Nova Scotians to have an opportunity to be vaccinated by the end of September.

On Wednesday, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) saidthe maximum interval between the first and second doses of thePfizer-BioNTech vaccine should increasefrom three weeks to four months.

Since the first doses of all three available vaccines have been shown to dramatically increase immunity to the disease, or to significantly reduce the illness associated with contracting COVID-19, the committee said stretching the interval would help protect more Canadians sooner.

It's unclear if or how that would impact Nova Scotia's vaccine rollout plan.

Asymptomatic rapid testing

Asymptomatic rapid testing sites continue to be set up across the province.

Nova Scotia Health is holding asymptomatic rapid testing at the following locations:

• Thursday, March 4at the Spryfield Lions Rink and rec centreat 111 Drysdale Rd. inHalifax from 10 a.m. to4:30 p.m. The entranceto the gymnasium is on theleft hand side of the building.
  
• Friday, March 5at the Spryfield Lions Rink and rec centrefrom noon to 7 p.m.
  
• Friday, March5at the Halifax Convention Centre, Argyle Streetentrance, from3:30 p.m. to 9:30p.m.
  
• Saturday, March6at theHalifax Convention Centre, Argyle Streetentrance, from3:30 p.m. to 9:30p.m.

As well, the province's mobile testing unit will be available for drop-in or pre-booked appointments at the following locations:

• Thursday, March 4toSaturday, March 6 at theBrooklyn Civic Centre at995 NS-215 in Brooklyn from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Testing will also take place on Sunday, March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  
• Thursday, March 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, March 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at theNew Minas Fire Department at 6 Jones Road in New Minas.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported three new cases Wednesdayfor a total of 37known active cases. Threepeople are in hospital related to COVID-19, with twoin intensive care.
  
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported threenew cases Wednesday. After a significant number ofrecoveries, the province now has 149known active cases.
  
• P.E.I.reported onenew caseon Wednesday,making for 22known active cases on the Island the most since the pandemic started.The province is moving out of red-level lockdown on Thursday andreopening schools, but maintainingcircuit-breaker restrictions, including no indoor dining atrestaurants.