NS Government photo
Nova Scotia authorities are getting frustrated with people ignoring rules surrounding COVID-19.
Referring to a photo of people gathered around in front of a Costco, Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, says stores are putting precautions in place inside but people need to obey physical distancing everywhere.
“But if people just crowd up outside, all that what’s in the stores is for naught, if they’re all crowded up outside and exposing one another there. I bring that forward as an example that there are just too many instances of people still not getting it…and by doing that, you’re putting us all at risk.”
The Department of Health announced the first COVID-19 death in the province on Tuesday morning, stating that a woman in her seventies, with underlying health conditions died Monday in a hospital.
Dr. Strang says this is a stark reminder that this is a serious disease that can affect anyone.
“While there are people in our communities, seniors, people with underlying health conditions, that are most vulnerable for severe disease and dying, you look around the world, they’re not the only ones. If you look even in North America, we are seeing previously healthy young people also getting severe disease an dying. This disease does not respect age.”
There have now been 10,621 negative test results in Nova Scotia, 310 positive COVID-19 test results and one death.
Eleven individuals are currently in hospital.
Sixty-six individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved.
The Department of Health and Wellness says the “QEII Health Sciences Centre’s microbiology lab is now operating 24-hours”.
Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Health Authority says it has signed a contract with Stanfield’s to buy protective gowns for health care workers.
During Tuesday’s update, Premier Stephen MacNeil says the first order is the one he referred to during Monday’s update which will bolster the months worth of equipment they currently have in stock.
“With the ability for us to order more, which I’m sure, if required or need to be, we will. I also want to say, there are other companies inside Nova Scotia that we’re looking at and, hopefully, we’ll be able to communicate in a few days that we’ll be preparing in other parts of the equipment that we’ll require to ensure that we have an ongoing supply.”
In their release, the NSHA says “production is beginning this week with the first gowns to be delivered the week of April 15”.
