**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
Nova Scotia Reports One More Death, Fourteen New Cases of COVID-19
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There will be no COVID-19 media briefing today, May 4.
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Today, May 4, Nova Scotia is reporting one additional death related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 38. The death occurred at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality.
“I offer my condolences to the family who is grieving the loss of their loved one today,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “We must remain vigilant, especially around our long-term care homes, to protect residents and staff. We have slowed the spread provincially, but we need to stay the course and continue to follow the public health protocols.”
As of today, Nova Scotia has 985 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Fourteen new cases were identified Sunday, May 3.
“It is important everyone recognizes Nova Scotia continues to see new cases of COVID-19 – we are not out of the woods,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “Now is not the time to let our guard down. Please continue to do all you can to help slow the spread of this virus by following public health orders and advice.”
The QEII Health Sciences Centre’s microbiology lab completed 455 Nova Scotia tests on May 3 and is operating 24-hours.
As of May 3, there were 10 licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors’ facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19, involving 239 residents and 111 staff.
If you have two or more of the following symptoms, visit http://811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:
— fever
— new or worsening cough
— sore throat
— runny nose
— headache
To date, Nova Scotia has 30,441 negative test results, 985 positive COVID-19 test results and 38 deaths. Confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. Six individuals are currently in hospital, two of those in ICU. Six-hundred and thirty-eight individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. A map and graphic presentation of the case data is available at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data .
Public health is working to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases. 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 Nova Scotia 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 is now more important than ever for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health orders and directives – practise good hygiene, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from others, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and stay at home as much as possible.
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Quick Facts:
— testing numbers are updated daily at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and extended to May 17
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: http://canada.ca/coronavirus
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397
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)
