**** HEALTH/WELLNESS Media Release
Nova Scotia Reports Six More Deaths, Eight New Cases of COVID-19
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There will be no COVID-19 media briefing today, May 3 or Monday, May 4.
Government will continue to issue news releases on new cases each day.
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Today, May 3, Nova Scotia is reporting six additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 37. The deaths occurred at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality.
“Six more families are mourning the loss of a loved one today and my thoughts are with them. I am so very sorry for you loss,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “I ask all Nova Scotians to help keep COVID-19 out of our long-term care facilities and our communities by continuing to follow the public health directives to help stop the spread of this virus.”
As of today, Nova Scotia has 971 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eight new cases were identified Saturday, May 2.
“We continue to work with our partners to protect residents and staff at Northwood,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health. “We all need to continue working together, washing our hands, social distancing and using our common sense to keep fighting this virus.”
The QEII Health Sciences Centre’s microbiology lab completed 734 Nova Scotia tests on May 2 and is operating 24-hours.
As of May 2, there were 10 licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors’ facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19, involving 239 residents and 109 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 29,945 negative test results, 971 positive COVID-19 test results and 37 deaths. Confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. Six individuals are currently in hospital, three of those in ICU. Six-hundred and twenty-four 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)
