Nova Scotia reports two COVID-19 deaths in August

Two people died from COVID-19 in Nova Scotia in August, according to the latest numbers provided by the province’s Health Department.

That’s an increase of two deaths from the previous month, when the province said there were no deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. 

There was an increase in numbers across the board in comparison to the numbers reported in July, according to the monthly COVID-19 report released late Friday afternoon. 

There were 440 PCR positive tests and 38 hospitalizations in August, up from 260 PCR positive tests and 35 hospitalizations in July.

The Health Department said age and under-vaccination continue to be associated with severe outcomes of the virus.

Nova Scotians 70 and over are 30 times more likely to have been hospitalized, compared to those 18-49, and are 22 times more likely to die, compared with those 50-69.

Nova Scotians who were unvaccinated or had not completed their primary series were hospitalized and died at about two times the rate (1.7 and 2, respectively) as those who received a booster within 168 days.

The summary of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and outcomes from July 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023, tallies 39,715 cases provincewide; 4.8 per cent were hospitalized and 0.7 per cent were admitted to an ICU.

Since July 1, 2022, there have been a total of 423 deaths because of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. The people who died ranged in age from 14 to 107; the median age is 84.