**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
One Death,117 New Cases of COVID-19, State of Emergency Renewed
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Today, May 14, Nova Scotia is reporting a death related to COVID-19. A man in his 80s has died in Central Zone.
There have now been 72 COVID-19 related deaths in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia is also reporting 117 new cases of COVID-19 and 151 recoveries today.
There are 97 cases in Central Zone, nine in Eastern Zone, seven in Western Zone and four in Northern Zone.
A ninth patient in a non-COVID unit at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre has tested positive for COVID-19. The other patients in the non-COVID unit have tested negative and are being closely monitored. As a precaution, Nova Scotia Health Authority is testing staff and doctors who have worked in the unit.
One of the cases in Western Zone involves a staff member at Harbour View Haven, a nursing home in Lunenburg. Staff and residents from the affected unit are being tested. At the direction of public health and as an added precaution, some residents are being isolated and cared for in their rooms. Most residents have been fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
There is community spread in Central Zone. The Eastern, Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread.
As of today, Nova Scotia has 1,537 active cases of COVID-19. There are 89 people in hospital, including 21 in ICU.
On May 13, Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 7,779 tests.
There were 41,331 rapid tests administered between May 7 and 13.
As of May 13, 415,570 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 38,830 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since April 1, there have been 2,782 positive COVID-19 cases and six deaths. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. There are 1,239 resolved cases. The median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 55 for non-ICU, and 59 for people in ICU. Cumulative cases may change as data is updated in Panorama.
Travel within Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotians should remain as close to their home and community as possible, unless travel is essential for work, caregiving, necessary shopping or medical appointments, including vaccination appointments. In this instance, ‘community’ is defined as one’s municipality or county. Detailed information is available at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/ .
Testing advice:
Nova Scotians with or without symptoms can book a test at http://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en for primary assessment centres across the province. Those with no symptoms are strongly encouraged to use pop-up sites if they are not showing symptoms but want to be tested.
More information on testing can be found at http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is advised to self-isolate and book a COVID-19 test. Everyone they live with must also self-isolate until the person receives their first negative test result. If the test is positive, public health will advise everyone about what to do.
Anyone advised by public health that they were a close contact needs to complete a full 14-day quarantine, regardless of test results. If the close contact is symptomatic, everyone they live with must also self-isolate until the person receives their first negative test result. If the test is positive, public health will advise everyone about what to do.
Symptoms and self-assessment:
Nova Scotians should visit http://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-assessment if in the past 48 hours they have had or are currently experiencing mild symptoms, including:
— fever (i.e. chills/sweats) or cough (new or worsening)
— sore throat
— runny nose/nasal congestion
— headache
— shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
People should call 811 if they cannot access the online self-assessment or wish to speak with a nurse about their symptoms.
Anyone with symptoms should immediately self-isolate and book a test.
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, May 16, and extend to noon, Sunday, May 30, unless government terminates or extends it.
Quick Facts:
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22, 2020, and extended to May 30, 2021
— due to an increased number of investigations, the exposure category (i.e., travel, close contact or under investigation) is not available by release time; a breakdown by zone identifying exposure categories will no longer be provided regularly
Additional Resources:
More information on COVID-19 case data, testing and vaccines is available at: http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data/
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
More information about public health text notifications of positive COVID-19 cases and close contacts is available here: http://www.nshealth.ca/news/public-health-begins-contacting-positive-covid-19-cases-close-contacts-text-message
More information on what is considered essential travel is available here: http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/travel/#from-outside-atlantic-canada
Government of Canada: http://canada.ca/coronavirus or 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)
Anyone needing help with a non-crisis mental health or addiction concern can 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)
