Nova Scotia reports 10 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, announces mobile testing units

The province reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the number of total active cases to 142.

The new cases were announced at Tuesday’s COVID-19 update, along with new mobile test units, and a plea for Nova Scotians to limit travel between certain areas of the province.

The province is also implementing a new restriction for caregivers of residents of long-term care facilities: starting Wednesday every resident will only be allowed one designated caregiver, as opposed to two.

“I know this puts some imposition on families and the residents but we felt it’s a necessary step at this phase,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health.

Tuesday night, the province reported one additional case connected to St. Margaret’s Bay Elementary school in the Central Zone. The school was to be closed Wednesday for deep cleaning and close contacts will be notified, tested, and asked to self isolate if positive.

Meanwhile, the restrictions in place for the Halifax area will remain in effect until at least Dec. 9, and the province will reassess next week.

“And as we get closer to Dec. 9, we’ll look at all these different indicators and we’ll decide if we need to extend their measures, and if so, which measures might need to stay in place and for how much longer,” Strang said.

“We need everybody to expect and understand that we’re going to have to have a very different holiday season this year, one with smaller and fewer gatherings and less travel.”

New mobile testing units

Premier Stephen McNeil also announced the introduction of mobile testing units at Tuesday’s COVID briefing.

The new units will be based out of two vans that will be staffed by public health practitioners and will be deployed to specific areas based on the province’s needs.

Strang said that the new units will not operate on a drop-in basis and that people will be notified about how and when they will get tested.

The units’ first deployment will be Wednesday at Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning, N.S.

“We’ve had two cases that we’re still unclear about how they’re linked, and we’re doing this testing as a way to get a better sense of how the virus may have spread within that school community, if it has spread at all,” Strang said.

Strang discourages travel into and out of affected areas

Strang also reminded Nova Scotians that the province is asking people to limit travel between certain areas to essential activities.

“Those areas are starting with Hubbards all the way through into under the peninsula over to Dartmouth all the way out to communities around Porters Lake and then up north to Bedford, Sackville, Fall River, as far up including Enfield and Elmsdale and over to Mount Uniacke,” Strang said.

“This is where our virus activity is focused right now and we want to keep it that way.”

Because essential travel is permitted, people moving between these areas for school, work, or medical appointments can continue to do so.

“If you live out in the eastern shore and have a doctor’s appointment at Dartmouth General Hospital, that’s essential travel. So these kinds of things can continue,” Strang said.

Symptoms

Anyone with one of the following symptoms should visit the COVID-19 self-assessment website or call 811:

• Fever.
• Cough or worsening of a previous cough.

Anyone with two or more of the following symptoms is asked to visit the website or call 811:

• Sore throat.
• Headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Runny nose.