**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
One Death, Six New Cases of COVID-19, Additional Variant Case Identified, State of Emergency Renewed
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Today, April 16, Nova Scotia is reporting a death related to COVID-19. A woman over 80 has died in Central Zone.
There have now been 67 COVID-related deaths in Nova Scotia.
Six new cases of COVID-19 are being reported today.
Three cases are in Central Zone. One is a close contact of a previously reported case and the other two are related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.
Two cases are in Eastern Zone and one case is in Western Zone, all related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.
In all cases, the people are self-isolating, as required.
Unrelated to the cases announced today, an additional UK variant case has been identified. This case was previously reported and is included in the provincial data, though the person is not in Nova Scotia and has no known close contacts in the province.
This brings the total number of cases of the UK variant in Nova Scotia to 45. The number of South African variant cases remains at 10.
As of today, Nova Scotia has 42 active cases of COVID-19.
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 2,032 Nova Scotia tests on April 15.
There were 248 tests administered between April 10 and 11 at the rapid-testing pop-up sites in Dartmouth and Halifax.
As of April 15, 194,792 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 32,255 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 338,855 tests. There have been 703 positive COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Three people are in hospital. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. There are 659 resolved cases. Cumulative cases may change as data is updated in Panorama.
Nova Scotians are strongly encouraged to seek asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, particularly if they have a large number of close contacts due to their work or social activities. Appointments can be booked at http://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/, by choosing the asymptomatic option. Rapid testing pop-up sites continue to be set up around the province as well. More information on testing can be found at http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting .
The province is renewing the state of emergency to protect the health and safety of Nova Scotians and ensure safety measures and other important actions can continue. The order will take effect at noon, Sunday, April 18, and extend to noon, Sunday, May 2, unless government terminates or extends it.
Visit http://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, the person is directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days. Public health works to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with that person.
Anyone who has travelled from anywhere except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, anyone 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.
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Businesses and other organizations can find information to help them safely reopen and operate at http://novascotia.ca/reopening-nova-scotia .
Quick Facts:
— additional information on COVID-19 case data, testing and vaccines is available at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data/
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22, 2020 and extended to May 2, 2021
— online booking for COVID-19 testing appointments is available at http://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: http://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)
If you need help with a non-crisis mental health or addiction concern call Community Mental Health and Addictions at 1-855-922-1122 (toll-free) weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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 http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/symptoms-and-testing/
