Photo from the Government of NS
The Department of Health and Wellness has made some changes to their list of symptoms required for screening.
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, says the expansion of the list is due to what they are learning globally and across Canada.
“The symptoms are fever, new or worsening cough, headache, sore throat, and runny nose. If people have two or more of those symptoms, there’s a possibility they may have COVID infection and those are the people we’re looking to be tested.”
Premier Stephen MacNeil agreed that the expanded testing is catching more positive cases, including many mild cases.
“We’ve expanded and broadened our testing, which means we are catching more positive cases, including the mild ones and that’s good news. The bad news is that COVID is in our communities. The virus does not discriminate and if you do not follow the rules, it will follow you.”
The Department of Health and Wellness says there were thirty-two new cases were identified in the province yesterday for a total of 342 confirmed cases with eleven individuals currently in hospital and five of those in ICU.
There have also been 11,346 negative test results, and seventy-seven cases are considered resolved after those individuals were deemed to have recovered.
Meanwhile, some people in the province have been calling 9-1-1 and telling them they have COVID-19 symptoms thinking it will get them faster serviced.
Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, says that has to stop.
He says 9-1-1 has a triage process that they use, no matter what the symptoms are.
“Saying you have COVID will not ensure you, in any way, that you’re going to get faster attention and it causes unnecessary anxiety to the EHS crews and it’s a waste of resources of precious personal protective equipment in our healthcare system.”
Dr. Strang says it’s not happening a lot but enough that he had to address the situation.
He says the public needs to be honest with healthcare personnel and act responsibly.
The Department of Health and Wellness says in their release that “it is now more important than ever for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health orders and directives – practise good hygiene, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from others, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and stay at home as much as possible.”
