**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
One-Hundred-Forty-Eight New Cases of COVID-19
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Nova Scotia is reporting 148 new cases of COVID-19 today, May 1.
There are 129 cases in Central Zone, 17 cases in Eastern Zone and two cases in Western Zone.
Due to an increased number of investigations in recent days, the exposure category (i.e., travel, close contact or under investigation) is not always available by release time. A breakdown by zone identifying exposure categories will no longer be provided regularly. There is community spread in Central Zone. The Eastern, Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread.
Two new cases in Central Zone are residents of the Clarmar Residential Care Facility, a residential care home in Dartmouth, and are linked to a previous case at the facility.
One case in Central Zone is a staff member at the Shoreham Village long-term care home in Chester. As a precaution, residents living on one of the units are being isolated and cared for in their rooms. Staff in the facility and residents on the unit are being tested. Residents on this unit have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Public health is following up with Closing the Gap, a home-care provider, connected to the case.
As reported yesterday, April 30, due to the volume of testing in the province, the Nova Scotia Health Authority lab is experiencing a backlog. There is also a delay in public health’s case data entry into Panorama.
“We expected a large case number today as the lab catches up with the backlog,” said Premier Iain Rankin. “The case count today reinforces the need for people to stay at home as much as possible, go out only for essential reasons, and closely follow the restrictions.”
As of today, Nova Scotia has 713 active cases of COVID-19. There are 30 people in hospital, including five in ICU.
On April 30, Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 16,578 tests.
Since Oct. 1, there have been 1,486 positive COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. There are 771 resolved cases. Cumulative cases may change as data is updated in Panorama.
“We’re making progress with the lab and data-entry backlog but we will continue to see high case numbers for a few days,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “We are in a serious place right now and every Nova Scotian needs to be vigilant, stay home, and make the new public health measures a way of life for the next while.”
Nova Scotia is currently under stronger restrictions to protect public health. Information at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/ .
Nova Scotians are strongly encouraged to use pop-up sites if they are not showing symptoms but want to be tested. Rapid testing pop-up sites continue to be set up around the province More information on testing can be found at http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting .
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 instances. Information is at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/masks/ .
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 16, 2021
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/
