From left: Premier Stephen McNeil, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Carr, president and CEO, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Dr. Krista Jangaard, president and CEO, IWK Health Centre
As of today, March 26, Nova Scotia has 73 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Five new cases were identified Wednesday, March 25. Most are travel-related or connected to earlier cases.
One of the new cases cannot currently be linked to travel or an earlier case.
The investigation to determine the source of the exposure and whether any others may have been exposed is ongoing.
At this point, public health cannot confirm that this case is linked to community spread.
That is why it is imperative that anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia to self-isolate for 14 days and for everyone to adhere to the five-person social gathering limit.
The 73 individuals affected range in age from under ten to mid-70’s. Two individuals are currently in hospital.
Two individuals have recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved and cases have been identified in all parts of the province.
Public health is working to identify people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases.
Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
To date, Nova Scotia has 3,201 negative test results and 73 confirmed cases.
***The NSHA is identifying a St. Patrick’s Day party at the community centre in Lake Echo as the origin site of the suspected “community spread” case being investigated.
Quick Facts:
— Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5
— under the state of emergency government can control or prohibit assembly as well as travel to and from areas. It can also coordinate commerce activity and emergency responders
— a new virus like COVID-19 can cause fear. Nova Scotians are encouraged to support each other and use technology to stay connected
*****Testing for COVID-19 Expands; Health System Preparations*****
Premier Stephen McNeil, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Carr, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and Dr. Krista Jangaard, president and CEO of IWK Health Centre gave an update today, March 26, on the health system and efforts to help Nova Scotians dealing with COVID-19.
“Our health-care system is being examined from top to bottom to ensure we are ready for COVID-19,” said Premier McNeil. “Our hospital administrators, our doctors and nurses, cleaning staff – everyone is focused on containing the spread. But none of this matters if you don’t stay at home and avoid social gatherings.”
Dr. Strang said testing to confirm COVID-19 is being expanded to include:
— anyone referred by 811 to an assessment centre
— all close contacts of people who test positive
— people in hospital that meet the criteria for testing
An alternate phone line has been set up to ensure health-care workers are virus-free, able to safely provide care and not burden the 811 system. The service deals with NSHA and IWK staff, home-care and long-term care providers, pharmacists and health providers in First Nations communities.
“Over the next two weeks as travellers come home, we need to control and limit spread of this virus,” said Dr. Strang. “We can do this by strictly following public health measures – physical distancing and self-isolation.”
Other measures announced today include:
— reservations for the 2020 camping season are on hold; an announcement will made when they are available
— open fires are banned for any purpose in woods or within 305 metres of woods in any part of the province and will be in effect until May 15 (the public can report wildfires by calling 911 in an emergency or by calling 1-800-565-2224)
