Most health systems affected by a recent cyber attack have been restored, but the scope of the privacy breach as a result has been expanded considerably and credit monitoring services are being offered to patients and staff whose Social Insurance numbers were accessed.

Justice Minister John Hogan and representatives of the regional health authorities provided the update earlier today.

Eastern Health CEO David Diamond today confirmed that patient information connected to some specialized blood work and specimen samples from across the province that were analyzed at the provincial public health lab operated through Eastern Health was breached, but it does not include the lab results themselves.

Diamond says the personal information breach affecting employees, that officials originally indicated dated back 14 years, now goes back 28 years. The breach affecting some 900 patients goes back 11 years according to their investigation.

Equifax coverage will be extended for those whose employment dates back up to 28 years, while 900 patients will be notified about Equifax monitoring that will be provided for up to five years.