Nova Scotia reports 70 new COVID-19 over past two days; more cases at Pugwash nursing home

COVID-19 enforcement stepping up in N.S. With community spread continuing in some parts of Nova Scotia, efforts to control it are increasing. Jonathan MacInnis reports.

HALIFAX — Health officials in Nova Scotia are reporting 70 new COVID-19 cases and 69 recoveries since Wednesday, as the number of active cases remains at 277.

That includes new cases identified Wednesday and Thursday, as the province did not release numbers on Rememembrance Day.

"There is community spread in Northern and Western zones, primarily related to ongoing transmission from a faith-based gathering that occurred in late October," says the province in a release. "This includes secondary transmission to other faith-based gatherings, workplaces and to East Cumberland Lodge, a long-term care home in Pugwash."

Health officials say two more residents and two staff members at East Cumberland Lodge have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 22 residents and four staff members at the home have now tested positive. Public Health says they are working with the facility to prevent further spread, and have implemented increased public health measures and restrictions.

CRACKDOWN IS COMING

With 21 of the cases in the northern and western zones, where health officials say community spread is occurring, enforcement is being stepped up.

On Nov. 5, the operators of the Woods Harbour Community Centre were given a fine of more than $11,600.

"We received a complaint from the community about events being held in contravention of public health restrictions," said Cpl. Chris Marshall of the Nova Scotia RCMP.

Marshall says officers visited the centre on Oct. 21 and Oct. 24, offering education on what COVID-19 protocols are in place.

"In speaking to them, that's when we learned that they had been advised by the community centre management that there was no need for them to follow health restrictions," Marshall said.

Wayne Malone is the community centre's president.

"Everyone knows that COVID protocols need to be followed," he said. "We have it listed on our door, we have our signage, everything is there."

He says the board will appeal the fine in court.

"We're all family oriented, we get birthday parties, baby showers. We're an adult learning center," Malone said. "I'm looking into getting a mental wellness centre going because it's huge or this past two years."

In a statement, Public Health says the fourth wave of COVID-19 is still washing over the province, and enforcement of protocols will continue.

Any compliance action takes into consideration the risk to public health and the willingness of the business or organization to comply with this protocol.

Malone says if the fine is upheld, the centre will close.

EXPOSURE NOTICE FOR SEVEN SCHOOLS

Health officials also sent exposure notices for seven schools in the province on Wednesday and Thursday.

The latest school exposures are at Hants East Rural High School in Milford, Millwood High School in Middle Sackville, Basinview Community School and Rocky Lake Junior High in Bedford, Cunard Junior High, and Burton Ettinger Elementary and Fairview Junior High in Halifax.

“It is important to note that an exposure associated with a school does not mean there is spread within the school or that the initial case was first exposed to the virus in the school. As always, all staff, parents and guardians are notified of exposures if a positive case (student, teacher or staff) was at the school while infectious,” said N.S. Health in a release.

A list of schools with exposures is available online.

COVID-19 CASE DATA

Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 3,451 on Wednesday and 2,552 tests on Thursday. A total of 1,347,985 COVID-19 tests have been processed since the start of the pandemic.

There were 28,019 rapid tests administered between November 5 and 11. This includes 2,114 rapid tests at the pop-up sites in Halifax, Dartmouth, Amherst and Annapolis Royal and 25,905 through the workplace screening program. Another 11,558 home rapid tests were distributed at the pop-up sites.

According to the province's online COVID-19 dashboard, there have been 7,815 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Of those, 7,306 people have recovered and 102 have died due to COVID-19.

Since Aug. 1, there have been 1,850 positive COVID-19 cases and eight deaths. Of the new cases since Aug. 1, 1,565 are now considered resolved.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

BREAKTHROUGH DATA

Public Health reports 'breakthrough cases' weekly. A breakthrough case involves a person becoming COVID-19 positive at least two weeks after receiving either one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the province there have been 101 cases of COVID-19 from Nov. 4 to Nov. 9. Of those:

There have been 6,067 cases from March 15 to Nov. 9. Of those:

There were 314 people hospitalized. Of those:

Thirty-six people died. Of those:

VACCINE UPDATE

The province's COVID-19 online dashboard provides an update on the number of vaccines that have been administered to date.

As of Friday, 1,593,242 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 772,138 Nova Scotians have received their second dose, and 6,642 eligible Nova Scotians have received a third dose.

In total, 83.4 per cent of the province's overall population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 78.9 per cent of Nova Scotians have received their second dose.

The province says it has received a total of 1,661,340 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since Dec. 15, 2020.

All Nova Scotians are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible. COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be made online or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19: