Nova Scotia reports no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday; active cases drop to 25

Nova Scotia reports no new cases of COVID-19 The low number of COVID-19 cases in the second wave is a result of people following guidelines. Natasha Pace reports.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia health officials are reporting no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, dropping the total number of active cases in the province to 25.

Three of the previously reported cases are now considered resolved, according to the province’s online dashboard.

“I want to thank all Nova Scotians for their hard work in keeping our case numbers low,” said Premier Stephen McNeil.

“I also want to remind everyone that we can’t let our guard down. We still have provincewide restrictions in place, and we will be providing an update on them by the end of the week. Let’s continue to protect the health of each other by following all the public health protocols.”

On Sunday, the province announced four new cases, one in each of the province’s four health zones: Western Zone, Northern Zone, Eastern Zone and Central Zone.

In a news release on Monday, health officials say the case from Sunday that was reported in the Eastern Zone was an individual who was tested in Nova Scotia but is a resident of another province or territory.

Government says for this reason, this case has been removed from the province’s cumulative provincial data. The person has been self-isolating as required.

N.S. CONTINUES TO FLATTEN THE CURVE

With case numbers soaring next door in New Brunswick and across the country, Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Lisa Barrett, says Nova Scotia's low cases count is all thanks to strict public health restrictions implemented by the province.

"I think we had a long and strong history of several things that make us to date, successful,” said Barrett.

Barrett says policy changes and public health decisions made in Nova Scotia during the pandemic have been fast and innovative.

"We didn't waffle back and forth on masks, we did it and we kept it. In hospital settings, our health authorities were definitive about keeping numbers low in the hospitals and about restricting visitors. We saw testing increase in different ways,” said Barrett.

All of that Barrett says, is science.

"Basically, the leadership has taken some great science that's happened locally and around the world, as well as innovation, and embraced it and they continue to do so where other people haven't,” she said.

The president of Doctors Nova Scotia said the province got out ahead of COVID-19 early and that Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, and his team were very effective in communicating.

"But ultimately I think it's the public,” said Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie. “I think everybody should feel really proud about the hard work that we're doing. We've all made sacrifices and it's been a long haul but I'm so proud to be Nova Scotian right now and to see how well we're doing."

Those who work in long-term care also believe the second wave of the pandemic hasn’t hit as hard in Nova Scotia because everyone is doing their part.

"I think Nova Scotians are paying attention and I think we seen it in that first wave what can happen and I don't think anybody in the province wants that to happen again,” said Josie Ryan, the executive director of long-term care at Northwood.

"Everyone's doing what they're supposed to do and then it's a trickledown effect so that's why we're seeing success as well,” said Tracey Tulloch, with Rosecrest Communities.

During the first wave of the pandemic, Northwood’s Halifax campus became the epicenter of the virus in Nova Scotia.

There was also an outbreak at the Magnolia in Enfield, N.S. A total of two residents and four staff were infected there last spring.

Tullouch says there have been no outbreaks associated with any of Rosecrest Communities three long-term care facilities during the second wave.

"It's been a much easier process. We're constantly vigilant though and staff and residents are doing their part and doing what they need to do,” she said.

COVID-19 CASE DATA

The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 1,079 tests on Sunday.

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 142,302 tests. There have been 468 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. Cases have ranged in age from under 10 to over 70. Four hundred and forty-three cases are now resolved.

Since the pandemic began, Nova Scotia has completed 265,473 tests. Cumulatively, there have been 1,558 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 65 total deaths. One-thousand, four-hundred and sixty-seven cases are now considered resolved.

There is currently no one in hospital due to COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the province’s confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Fifty-five per cent of cases are female, and 45 per cent are male.

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.

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, 2020, has been extended to Jan. 24, 2021.

MOBILE TESTING UNIT REMAINS IN TRURO

The province's mobile COVID-19 unit is in Truro again on Monday following a recent increase of potential COVID-19 exposures in the area.

Drop-in testing is available Monday at the Best Western Glengarry Convention Centre located at 150 Willow Street, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The same drop-in testing unit will also be available on Tuesday.

The additional testing support is a response to the recent number of potential exposure warnings in the Northern Zone – many for retail stores.

Public health is encouraging anyone who has visited a location that has had a potential COVID-19 exposure in the Northern Zone to get tested.

However, they also added that testing is available for everyone, regardless of whether they attended any of the possible exposure locations.

Health officials say if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 you should not visit a drop-in testing mobile site.

In this case, you should visit the province’s online self-assessment tool or call 811 to determine if a COVID-19 test is required.

POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS RETURNING TO N.S.

Any post-secondary students returning to Nova Scotia are required to self-isolate for 14-days upon arrival. Government officials are also strongly encouraging them to get tested halfway through that isolation period, either on day 6, 7 or 8.

COVID-19 tests for post-secondary students can be pre-booked online three days in advance.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

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: