HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is reporting its highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 in just over a year with four new deaths related to the virus.

Health officials say the deaths include two men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s in the Halifax area, as well as a man in his 80s in the western zone.

The province's previous single day high was recorded on May 3, 2020 when six people died as a result of COVID-19.

A total of 84 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic.

Officials also reported 33 new cases of the today, with 21 in the Halifax area, seven in the eastern zone, three in the western zone and two in the northern zone.

There are 566 known active cases of the novel coronavirus in Nova Scotia and 43 people in hospital, including 18 in intensive care.

The province's chief medical officer of health gave his condolences to the families of those who died in a news release Saturday, along with a warning to the public.

"I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is to follow both the letter and the spirit of the public health measures to prevent further illness and death from this virus," said Dr. Robert Strang. "We must never forget that it is all around us, and that is why it is so important we loosen restrictions and reopen slowly and gradually."

Nova Scotia announced what it called a cautious plan to lift lockdown restrictions that have been in place since the end of April on Friday.

Premier Iain Rankin unveiled a complex, five-phase strategy that won't progress until the province meets certain vaccination rates and hospitalization numbers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021.

The Canadian Press