Nova Scotia reports 10 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, all in central zone

There are 10new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 125.

A press release stated that nine of the new cases were in the central healthzone and one in the western zone. But a corrected release stated all the cases were in the central zone.

A release later in the day said a new case was discovered Sunday in the western zone and is connected to the Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning, KingsCounty.

The school has been closed since the first case connected to it was identified on Nov. 24.

School to stay closed

Northeast Kings will remain closed for the week, according to the release,and students will be supported for remote learning.

The new positive test will be included in theofficial figures tomorrow.

Nova Scotia labs completed 2,254 tests Saturday.

No one is in hospital in Nova Scotia related to the virus.

An additional 540tests were administered at arapid-testing site in Dartmouth. There was one positive case detected and that person was ordered to self-isolate and referred to take a standard test.

Rapid-testing 'pop-up' sites have been operating in Halifax and Dartmouth over the weekend. These sites are for people without symptoms and who have not travelled or been to a place that is the subject of an exposure notice.

The rapid-test is not as accurate as the standard COVID-19 test so anyone testing positive in the rapid-test must then take the standard test to confirm the test results.

The province's case data website has not been updated since Nov. 26. A news release said it is due to a technical problem.

The province announced five new exposure sites Saturday, including businesses inSydney and Truro.

A full list of exposures in the province can be foundhere.

Premier Stephen McNeilurged people in the Halifax area to follow the latest guidelines.

"By following the new restrictions in the greater Halifax area, we are working together to contain the spread of the virus," he said in a news release.

New restrictions in effect

New restrictionscame into effect Thursdayin most of the Halifax Regional Municipality and parts of Hants County.

The restrictionsinclude stopping dine-in service at bars and restaurants and closing gyms,libraries, museums and casinos for at least the next two weeks. Masks are alsomandatory in common areas of multi-unit dwellings like apartments and condos.

A list of what's open and closed in the Halifax region can be foundhere.

Across the province,visitations to long-term care facilities are no longerallowedunless the person is a volunteer or designated caregiver.

All other Atlantic provinces, most recently New Brunswick, have brought back mandatory 14-day self-isolation for travellers. But as of Thursday evening, Nova Scotia's policy on regional travel remainedunchanged.

COVID casesin the Atlantic provinces

The latest numbers from the Atlantic provinces are:

• New Brunswickreported 14 new cases Sunday and has a total of 119active cases. Effective midnight Thursday, anyone arriving in the province from all other provinces, including the Atlantic provinces, must self-isolate for 14 days.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported four newcases Sunday and has 36activecases.EffectiveWednesday,anyone arriving in the provincefrom within the Maritimes will have to self-isolatefor 14 days.
• P.E.I.reported no new cases Sundayandhas four active cases. One of the cases announced Saturday is a high school student. The province indicated there will no school closures as a result of this case. As of Tuesday,anyone travelling to P.E.I. from other Atlantic provinces will have to quarantinefor two weeks.

Symptoms

Anyone with one of the following symptoms should visit the COVID-19self-assessment websiteor call 811:

• Fever.
• Cough or worsening of a previous cough.

Anyone with two or more of the following symptoms is also asked to visit the website or call 811:

• Sore throat.
• Headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Runny nose.

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