YARMOUTH, NS –

Rapid COVID-19 tests are underway in Nova Scotia.

Monday’s target was Yarmouth, as that region is seeing cases soar.

“We know Delta moves very easily, very quickly,” said infectious disease expert Dr. Lisa Barrett.

Nearly 100 new cases have been reported since Friday and three more Nova Scotians have died.

Barrett describes the situation as precarious.

“If we don’t keep a lid on our cases, so to speak, and keep the cases low, before Christmas we will run out of the drugs we use to treat COVID patients,” Barrett said in an interview with CTV Atlantic.

“We have about 25 doses of one of our major drugs in this province and, due to global shortages, we won’t wait until the New Year,” Barrett said. “So we’ve used nine of those doses over the past week and a half that are associated with a particular outbreak.”

Barrett said Nova Scotians need to be more mindful of the size of gatherings and the types of gatherings they have.

“One of the best places for COVID to spread as this holiday season approaches are indoor mass gatherings,” Barrett said.

The best thing to do is get vaccinated, but what if you’re not?

“The second best thing to do if you aren’t vaccinated and need to be there is to continue to collect smaller sizes and also take advantage of testing where you can.”

Throughout the pandemic, epidemiologists say the hardest hit part of the province has always been the central area where Halifax is located.

But recently that has changed.

“What we are seeing now is that while the cases are somewhat high in the Halifax area, they are much higher in the northern and western areas,” said epidemiologist Kevin Wilson.

The northern area is home to East Cumberland Lodge, a nursing home where two 80-year-olds have died.

The outbreak is linked to what public health called a “multi-day faith-based event” in late October.

“It would be around that seven, 10-12 day point where we would expect that if people had an infection at the end of October, they could end up getting sick and end up in the hospital as well.”

Experts encourage people to get vaccinated.

The lowest vaccination rate is in the western zone, where testing was today.

REFUSAL OF LONG-TERM CARE HOMES INTERVIEW

CTV News requested an interview with East Cumberland Lodge on Monday afternoon, but it was turned down.

“Right now my staff and I are focused on providing the highest quality care to our residents,” said Andrew Holland.

The facility later posted an update on its Facebook page, expressing condolences to those who have passed away.

“This marks the first death of COVID-positive residents at our facility,” it reads, “As an organization and as a community we feel this loss, we mourn those affected by it and reaffirm our commitment to do all we can to protect our most vulnerable. “

Christal MacKinnon’s father, Ken Pollock, is one of 28 East Cumberland Lodge residents currently living with COVID-19.

She was shocked and saddened to learn that two residents have died and is urging people to get vaccinated.

“My deepest condolences to the parties involved. Thoughts and prayers for all staff and residents, and the community,” said MacKinnon, “I beg people to get vaccinated to protect all.” Https: //atlantic.ctvnews .ca / video? clipId = 2323192 & binId = 1.1145518 & playlistPageNum = 1