The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
N.S. reports 121 new cases
Nova Scotia is reporting another day of three-digit case numbers and a jump in hospitalizations.
There are 121 new cases, 94 of which are in the central zone. Sixteen cases are in the eastern zone, six in the western zone, and five in the northern zone.
Eight more people are in hospital with COVID-19 since the Department of Health released its daily update Sunday.
Of the 58 patients, nine are in the intensive care unit.
There are 1,655 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia as of Monday.
Nova Scotia is setting up an exemption process for people who were planning to come to Nova Scotia in May.
New border restrictions that took effect Monday ban travellers from entering the province unless they were permanent residents of Nova Scotia or travelling for essential reasons. This includes those who closed on a home and were moving to the province during the month of May.
"Obviously, there are exceptional circumstances. You sold your house in another province and took ownership on a house here in Nova Scotia all before the border closed or you've signed a lease," Premier Iain Rankin said at a live briefing Monday.
"We recognize there needs to be some flexibility on previously agreed upon dates, and we don't want you to be homeless, quite frankly."
People can apply for an exemption if they have:
• a purchase or sale agreement for a property purchase in 2021 showing that an offer has been accepted on or before April 21 and closing date is on or before May 20;
• a minimum one-year lease signed on or before April 21 and beginning on or before May 20;
• a letter of acceptance for new employment in Nova Scotia that cannot be done virtually or deferred; the letter must be dated on or before May 7.
More information is available about the application process at novascotia.ca/ coronavirus/restrictions-andguidance/#compassionateexceptions
BACKLOG CLEARING UP
Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 5,021 tests on Sunday.
With the testing backlog cleared, Strang said the province is offering asymptomatic testing again at primary assessment centres through PCR in addition to rapid testing at pop-up sites.
Public Health is still working through the backlog of positive cases that need to be contacted and entered into the data system, according to a news release.
To make sure new cases don't pile up, Nova Scotia Health has set up a team to call all positive cases as soon as they're confirmed by the lab to inform them of their test result. Public Health would later contact them to do contact tracing.
Rankin said most cases in the backlog have been cleared over the weekend. Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, said the backlog is now "well below" 100 cases out of over 200 cases reported Friday.
Strang said the cases in the backlog are being investigated and confirmed then added to the province's data system, called Panorama. The new cases reported on any given day could include cases from that backlog that were investigated the day before. Strang expects the backlog to clear up and that we'd have "realtime numbers" by the middle of the week.
"Once we clear up the backlog, then we know the cases that we report are the cases that came in in the last 24 hours."
Despite more than hundreds of cases reported over the last few days, Strang said there's an indication that "things are trending in the right direction."
"The average number of contacts per case is coming down substantively," he said. "That's a very important indicator that says how many new cases could result from one case."
He added that restrictions won't be lifted any time soon.
"Remember the days in March when we had zero, one, two, three cases? We need to get back there before we can start to be reopening and that's going to take several weeks."
ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD MUST ISOLATE
Strang said people should continue following public health measures including the new self-isolation rules that came in place Friday.
Anyone who got tested because they have symptoms, were at an exposure site, or were contacted by Public Health because they were a close contact should assume they tested positive and continue self-isolating until they receive a negative test result. Everyone in their household should also isolate.
Anyone who is feeling unwell should also assume they have COVID-19 and self-isolate while they arrange for a test. Their household should also isolate until the person feeling unwell receives a negative test result.
"We need your help. We need you to take action. Don't wait to hear from Public Health," said Strang.
VACCINE ROLLOUT CONTINUES
Nova Scotia is still seeing a high uptake for COVID-19 vaccines as more age groups become eligible, said Strang. Moderna and Pfizer vaccine appointments are open for people aged 45 and older. The Astrazeneca vaccine is available for those 40 and older.
A drive-through COVID19 vaccine clinic opened its doors Monday at the Dartmouth General Hospital. People 45 or older can book an appointment at the clinic at novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ book-your-vaccination-appointment/
As of Sunday, 366,089 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 37,699 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Nebal Snan is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.