HALIFAX — Nova Scotia has opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments to people 20 years of age and older across the province.

The government says 53,540 people in the 20-to-24 age group are eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

Health officials say appointments in community clinics and participating pharmacies will be opened on a continuous basis as vaccine supply is confirmed.

Forty-nine new cases of COVID-19 were identified Monday in the province, which has been under lockdown since April 28. 

As of Monday, the province had 894 active reported infections and 72 people in hospital with the disease, including 19 in intensive care. 

Over the Victoria Day long weekend, Nova Scotia’s active case count dropped below 1,000 for the first time since May 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press