PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Testing for COVID-19 Expands; Health System Preparations
Original found here
Premier Stephen McNeil, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Carr, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and Dr. Krista Jangaard, president and CEO of IWK Health Centre gave an update today, March 26, on the health system and efforts to help Nova Scotians dealing with COVID-19.
“Our health-care system is being examined from top to bottom to ensure we are ready for COVID-19,” said Premier McNeil. “Our hospital administrators, our doctors and nurses, cleaning staff – everyone is focused on containing the spread. But none of this matters if you don’t stay at home and avoid social gatherings.”
Dr. Strang said testing to confirm COVID-19 is being expanded to include:
- anyone referred by 811 to an assessment centre
- all close contacts of people who test positive
- people in hospital that meet the criteria for testing
An alternate phone line has been set up to ensure health-care workers are virus-free, able to safely provide care and not burden the 811 system. The service deals with NSHA and IWK staff, home-care and long-term care providers, pharmacists and health providers in First Nations communities.
“Over the next two weeks as travellers come home, we need to control and limit spread of this virus,” said Dr. Strang. “We can do this by strictly following public health measures – physical distancing and self-isolation.”
Other measures announced today include:
- reservations for the 2020 camping season are on hold; an announcement will made when they are available
- open fires are banned for any purpose in woods or within 305 metres of woods in any part of the province and will be in effect until May 15 (the public can report wildfires by calling 911 in an emergency or by calling 1-800-565-2224)
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Quotes:
I want to reassure IWK patients and families across Nova Scotia and those living in P.E.I., New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador that we are still here for you. Your urgent care needs will continue to be met and you will be permitted to cross the border for urgent and specialized appointments.
Dr. Krista Jangaard, president and CEO, IWK Health Centre
While most people are being told not to go to work, our staff and physicians are showing up every day to ensure Nova Scotians get the care they need. As we continue to plan, prepare and respond to COVID-19, we appreciate your patience, support and co-operation with the important public health measures that are in place. This will help reduce the impact the pandemic will have on Nova Scotians and our health system. It is a difficult time for everyone, but if we all do our part, we will reduce the spread of the virus and life will return to normal sooner.
Dr. Brendan Carr, president and CEO, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Quick Facts:
- testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
- Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
- a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5
- under the state of emergency government can control or prohibit assembly as well as travel to and from areas. It can also coordinate commerce activity and emergency responders
- a new virus like COVID-19 can cause fear. Nova Scotians are encouraged to support each other and use technology to stay connected
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: https://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).
PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Five New Cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia
Original found here
As of today, March 26, Nova Scotia has 73 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Five new cases were identified Wednesday, March 25. Most are travel-related or connected to earlier cases. One of the new cases cannot currently be linked to travel or an earlier case. The investigation to determine the source of the exposure and whether any others may have been exposed is ongoing. At this point, public health cannot confirm that this case is linked to community spread.
That is why it is imperative that anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia to self-isolate for 14 days and for everyone to adhere to the five-person social gathering limit.
The 73 individuals affected range in age from under ten to mid-70’s. Two individuals are currently in hospital. Two individuals have recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province.
Public health is working to identify 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.
To date, Nova Scotia has 3,201 negative test results and 73 confirmed cases.
If you have travelled outside of Nova Scotia or been in close contact with someone who has travelled and are experiencing fever or new cough you should complete the online questionnaire before calling 811. The online questionnaire can be found at: https://811.novascotia.ca/
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Today’s update will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast , @nsgov Facebook and YouTube channels.
Quick Facts:
- testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
- Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
- a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5
- under the state of emergency government can control or prohibit assembly as well as travel to and from areas. It can also coordinate commerce activity and emergency responders
- a new virus like COVID-19 can cause fear. Nova Scotians are encouraged to support each other and use technology to stay connected
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: https://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).
Open Fire Ban In Effect Until May 15 2020
The province of Nova Scotia has banned open fires during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The ban prohibits open fires for any purpose in woods or within 305 metres (1,000 feet) of woods in any part of the province. Bans on open fires are enacted as needed to protect the heath of the province’s forests during periods of high risk. This ban is in effect until May 15 2020.
La province de Nouvelle-Écosse a interdit les feux à ciel ouvert pendant la pandémie COVID-19. L’interdiction interdit les feux à ciel ouvert dans les bois et à moins de 305 mètres (1 000 pieds) des bois dans n’importe quelle partie de la province. L’interdiction des feux à ciel ouvert est promulguée selon les besoins pour protéger la santé des forêts de la province pendant les périodes de risque élevé. Cette interdiction est en vigueur jusqu’au 15 mai 2020.
Municipal Recycling Facility to Close Temporarily
In response to COVID-19 concerns and to help protect the health and safety of staff, the Municipality of the County of Inverness has temporarily closed the Strathlorne Recycling Facility. This temporary closure will be effective as of March 25, 2020 at 4:00pm through to April 1, 2020. An operational update on the Strathlorne Recycling Facility will be provided to the public before the end of the day on April 1, 2020.
There will therefore be no curbside recycling pickup (blue bags) on all routes starting on March 26 until April 1st.
The Municipality would also like to remind residents to always clean and properly sort their recyclables prior to pickup. Download the Municipality’s sorting guide here.
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En réponse aux préoccupations du COVID-19 et pour aider à protéger la santé et la sécurité du personnel, la Municipalité du comté d’Inverness a temporairement fermé le centre de recyclage de Strathlorne. Cette fermeture temporaire sera effective à partir du 25 mars 2020 à 16h00 jusqu’au 1er avril 2020. Une mise à jour opérationnelle du centre de recyclage de Strathlorne sera fournie au public avant la fin de la journée du 1er avril 2020.
Il n’y aura donc pas de collecte de recyclage (sacs bleus) à partir du 26 mars jusqu’au 1er avril.
La Municipalité souhaite également rappeler aux résidents de toujours nettoyer et de trier correctement leurs produits recyclables avant la collecte. Téléchargez le guide de tri de la Municipalité ici.
Municipality of the County of Inverness Releases COVID-19 Information Packages
INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – The Municipality of the County of Inverness has developed a COVID-19 information package for residents as part of the Municipality’s overall Pandemic Response Plan.
“The handout sums up many important issues related to COVID-19,” said the Municipality’s CAO Keith MacDonald. “It will give our residents a resource to use if they have questions or need to contact someone at the local or provincial level about their particular situation.”
The package contains a variety of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including government contact information, best practices for hygiene and recommendations on caring for individuals who may have contracted the virus.
The information package is available at various grocery stores and services stations across the County, as well as on the Municipality’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage, which also provides additional news and resources related to the pandemic.
Residents and media are encouraged to contact CAO Keith MacDonald at 902-258-5999 for further information and clarification about the information packages.
PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Strengthening Health System and New Measures
Original found here
Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, announced further measures today, March 24, to strengthen the health system and help Nova Scotians dealing with COVID-19.
“Keeping Nova Scotians safe and healthy is our number one job. Everything we are doing, we are doing to keep you safe,” said Premier McNeil. “We all need to keep working together, support one another and make sure we are following the public health advice. That is the only way we can control the spread of this virus.”
Measures announced today include:
- increased testing for COVID-19 — public health officials have begun testing all close contacts of positive cases
- lab capacity is doubling to accommodate increased testing
- expanding virtual care for physicians, nurse practitioners and others so they can offer appointments to patients through telephone or video, minimizing the need to leave the house; more than 80 providers have signed up for video so far
- 811 has increased staff and technology and is now answering 50 per cent more calls; on April 3, 811 will again double its capacity
- enhanced infection control measures at hospitals to protect health-care workers and the public include reassigning and adding new staff to increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection; focusing on high-risk areas and high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces; using stronger cleaning products
- regulated health professions can only stay open for emergency or urgent cases or to provide virtual care (excluding doctors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses and paramedics) as long as they can meet social distancing requirements in their waiting room or other non-clinical areas and follow the cleaning protocol
- non-regulated health professions (such as naturopaths) must close. One exception is podiatrists who must follow the directive related to regulated health professions
- Access Centres and Registry of Motor Vehicle Offices will start to resume operations in a scaled back, limited contact business model. Staff working out of Access Centres and Registry of Motor Vehicle offices in Amherst, Bridgewater, Dartmouth, Kentville, Stellarton, Sydney and Yarmouth will be available to help people with urgent matters by calling 1-800-670-4357. In addition, government has extended deadlines for more vehicle permits, registrations and renewals until Aug.31. Drop-off boxes for applicable services will also be available at Access Centres in Amherst, Bridgewater, Dartmouth, Kentville, Stellarton, Sydney and Yarmouth. Many of the services are also available online.
Essential service sectors in Nova Scotia, which are exempt from the five-person-or-fewer gathering rules, have been clarified and are:
- health
- food, agri-food and fisheries
- transportation, including trucking, rail and transit
- construction and manufacturing
- IT, telecommunications and critical infrastructure
- public services, such as police, fire and ambulances
Individual business in these sectors must still maintain social distancing and other public health protocols.
“We need your help to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Strang. “It is critically important to wash your hands, practise social distancing and self-isolate if you need to. It’s also important to be truthful in your interactions with health-care workers and don’t call 911 unless you have an emergency. Working together we can protect our communities and our most vulnerable citizens.”
Ten new cases were identified Monday, March 23. The cases are travel-related or connected to earlier reported cases. Several of the new cases are connected to groups or families who have returned to Nova Scotia following travel outside of Canada. None of these cases are from spread within the community.
The 51 individuals affected range in age from under 10 to mid-70s. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. One individual remains in hospital. One individual has recovered and their case of COVID-19 is considered resolved.
Public health has been in contact with these individuals and is working to identify others who may have come in close contact with them. Those individuals are also being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
To date, Nova Scotia has 2,474 negative test results and 51 confirmed cases.
Anyone who has travelled outside of Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. If you have travelled outside of Nova Scotia or been in close contact with someone who has travelled and are experiencing fever or new cough you should complete the online questionnaire before calling 811. The online questionnaire can be found at: https://811.novascotia.ca/
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Quick Facts:
- a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5
- under the state of emergency government can control or prohibit assembly as well as travel to and from areas. It can also coordinate commerce activity and emergency responders
- testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
- Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397
PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA: Ten New Cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia
Original available here
As of today, March 24, Nova Scotia has 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Ten new cases were identified Monday, March 23. The cases are travel-related or connected to earlier reported cases. Several of the new cases are connected to groups or families who have returned to Nova Scotia following travel outside of Canada. None of these cases are from spread within the community.
The 51 individuals affected range in age from under ten to mid-70’s. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. One individual remains in hospital. One individual has recovered and their case of COVID-19 is considered resolved.
Public health has been in contact with these individuals and is working to identify others who may have come in close contact with them. Those individuals are also being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
To date, Nova Scotia has 2,474 negative test results and 51 confirmed cases.
Anyone who has travelled outside of Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. If you have travelled outside of Nova Scotia or been in close contact with someone who has travelled and are experiencing fever or new cough you should complete the online questionnaire before calling 811. The online questionnaire can be found at: https://811.novascotia.ca/
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .
Today’s update will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast , @nsgov Facebook and YouTube channels.
Quick Facts:
- testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
- Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
- a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5
- under the state of emergency government can control or prohibit assembly as well as travel to and from areas. It can also coordinate commerce activity and emergency responders
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397
Message from Municipal Council
Municipality of the County of Inverness Enacts Pandemic Response Plan
INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – Municipality of the County of Inverness Council continues to take significant steps to address the COVID-19 outbreak. To this end, Council has enacted the Municipality of the County of Inverness Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Plan. The plan will now guide Council and staff in the continued safe operation of local municipal government services and the ongoing health and safety of staff, local business, community organizations and residents.
Key elements of the plan include, but aren’t limited to:
- The Port Hood Administrative Building and the Infrastructure & Emergency Services Facility are now closed to the public.
- The Kenloch Transfer Station will be closed to the public as of Wednesday, March 25th.
- All recreation and cultural programs offered through the Municipality will be cancelled and rescheduled, if possible.
- Foyer Père Fiset, Inverary Manor, Port Hood Small Options and Koster Huis are closed to visitors.
- All ‘Non-Essential’ municipal government meetings are cancelled, and staff will be working from home when possible.
“We’re continuing to work closely with provincial and local public health officials,” said Warden Betty Ann MacQuarrie. “Our priority is to keep local government, including Inverness County Homes Corporation operations, functioning in a safe and responsible manner. The enactment of the Pandemic Plan will guide our decisions as we go forward.”
Inverness County residents can find the most accurate and current Nova Scotia Provincial Government COVID-19 information www.novascotia.ca/coronavirus. Residents should follow hygiene and social distancing guidelines as outlined by the Nova Scotia Health Authority including:
- Stay home unless you absolutely must go out for supplies.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and don’t touch your face.
- Stay 6 feet or 2 metres away from others, wherever possible.
Residents and media are encouraged to contact CAO Keith MacDonald at 902-258-5999 for further information and clarification about the Pandemic Plan.
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SAT Service Suspended Until Further Notice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19th, 2020
Following the lead of Province of Nova Scotia and Government of Canada officials, Strait Area Transit and Victoria County Transit will be suspending services until further notice, effective at the end of the business day of March 20th, 2020.
The safety of staff and clients are paramount at this time and although this may cause some inconvenience, the board of directors and executive director feel this is a necessary measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
For any questions, clients can contact Chairperson John Dowling at john.dowling@invernesscounty.ca.
Strait Area Transit is a non-profit community-based transit system which has serviced the Strait region since 2007. This is a safe, reliable and affordable option aimed at improving the quality of life for all residents of the Strait Area (Inverness County, Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury).
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Strait Area Transit
32 Paint St
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 3J8
902-625-1475