HALIFAX: As of today, Dec. 12, Nova Scotia has 61 active cases of COVID-19. Seven new cases are being reported today.
Three cases are in Western Zone. Two are close contacts of previously reported cases. One is an employee of Eden Valley Poultry. This case was included in yesterday’s announcement of the plant closure related to the outbreak. A total of six employees have tested positive.
All employees have been tested and are self-isolating until they can be retested this coming week.
Two cases are in Eastern Zone and one case is in Northern Zone. All of these are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and are self-isolating as required.
One case is in Central Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case.
“I want to thank everyone at Eden Valley Poultry for working with Public Health in efforts to contain the virus,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “We know how quickly COVID-19 can spread. It is essential for all Nova Scotians to follow all the public health guidelines – isolate when required, wear a mask, practice social distancing, limit social contacts and travel, stay home when feeling unwell and wash your hands.”
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 1,606 Nova Scotia tests on Dec. 11.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 85,171 tests. There have been 320 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. No one is currently in hospital. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 80. Two hundred and fifty-nine cases are now resolved. Cumulative cases may change as data is updated in Panorama.
“Lower case numbers are a good sign we’re doing the right things, but we continue to have COVID-19 activity in the province,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “While these results show our approach is working, they also tell us we need to continue to follow the public health measures that are in place.”
Visit https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had or you are currently experiencing:
— fever (i.e. chills/sweats) or cough (new or worsening)
Or:
Two or more of the following symptoms (new or worsening):
— sore throat
— runny nose/nasal congestion
— headache
— shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
Call 811 if you cannot access the online self-assessment or wish to speak with a nurse about your symptoms.
When a new case of COVID-19 is confirmed, public health works to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with that person. Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
Anyone who has travelled outside of Atlantic Canada must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, any Nova Scotian who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better.
It remains important for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health order and directives – practise good hand washing and other hygiene steps, maintain a physical distance when and where required. Wearing a non-medical mask is mandatory in most indoor public places.
Rules concerning interprovincial travel within Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have changed. The premiers of all four Atlantic provinces are cautioning against non-essential travel into neighbouring provinces. Currently, all non-essential travel into Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador requires a 14-day self-isolation. All public health directives of each province must be followed. Under Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act order, visitors from outside Atlantic Canada must self-isolate for 14 days unless they completed their self-isolation in another Atlantic province.
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Businesses and other organizations can find information to help them safely reopen at https://novascotia.ca/reopening-nova-scotia .
Quick Facts:
— testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and extended to Dec. 27
— online booking for COVID-19 testing appointments is available for Nova Scotians getting a test at all primary assessment centres or at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus
Government of Canada information line 1-833-784-4397 (toll-free)
The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them, by calling 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)
Kids Help Phone is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
For more information about COVID-19 testing and online booking, visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/symptoms-and-testing/
The COVID-19 self-assessment is at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/