Premier Stephen MacNeil and NS chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang (Government of NS photo)
The Department of Health and Wellness has confirmed four more COVID-19 related deaths in Nova Scotia, all in long-term care facilities.
Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, says they were from two different facilities.
“Three residents at Northwood, in Halifax, as well as a resident in Harbourstone long-term care facility in Sydney. We have ten licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors’ facilities that have cases of COVID-19, and, in total, that involves 158 residents and 79 staff.”
Fifty-five new cases were identified Wednesday, giving us 827 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and sixteen deaths.
Ten people are in the hospital, four of them in the Intensive Care Unit, while three hundred and fifty-eight cases are now considered resolved with the individuals listed as recovered and there have been 23,731 negative test results.
Dr, Strang also says that Nova Scotia has now conducted more COVID-19 tests per capita than any other province, with the microbiology lab at the QEII Health Sciences Centre completing 921 tests Wednesday, two thirds of which were from the Central Zone and about 100 tests from each of the other zones.
“This shows the need for ongoing testing across the province. We still have a lot of people who’s symptoms could be COVID-19. We have been aggressive in our testing to identify cases as quickly as possible and then to track those cases and isolate the case and quarantine all of their tight contacts.”
He says the testing and Public Health follow-up has been key in keeping community spread limited.
Meanwhile, the Premier known for his “Stay the blazes home” comment thinks most people have gotten the message.
Stephen MacNeil says attitudes seem to have changed about the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think people have begun to understand the severity of this virus. People across the province are finding unique ways to self-isolate with their families, we see communities holding each other to account when we go across the province. We’re coming in to another weekend, obviously I’d be kidding you if I told you I’m not worried.”
The Premier says that communal gatherings usually happen on weekends in the province but he thinks most people now realize how serious the situation is.
