Nova Scotia reports single-day record 426 new COVID-19 cases Saturday

Nova Scotia is reporting 426 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday,breaking yet another daily case count record this week.

This is the ninth day in a row the province has announced more than 100 new infections.The province announced 394 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.

There are 296 new cases in central zone, 70 in eastern zone, 35in northern zone and 25cases in western zone, according to a news release from the Department of Health and Wellness.

According to the release, the province will be sharing"abbreviated" COVID-19 updates over the weekend.

There is no new information about hospitalizations. As of Friday, seven people were in hospital, including two in intensive care.

Nova Scotia Healthlabs completed 8,996 tests on Friday.

In light of the jump in cases, theprovince implemented tighter restrictions on gatherings and businessesFriday. Somebars and restaurants report having to endure staffing challengeswithsome of them closing temporarily due to employees testing positive.

The QEII Health Sciences Centresaid Friday it would be postponing some non-urgent surgeriesbeginning Monday.

Clinic to help those with acute respiratory symptoms

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Antigonish area, Nova Scotia Health said it is holding a pop-up clinicfor people with acute respiratory symptoms.

A spokesperson with the health authority said they have beenpiloting the clinicat St. Francis Xavier University this week, and it is now being extended to the community.

"The premise is to provide access for patients with upper respiratory symptoms like cough, sore throat, earache, etc. that feel their symptoms are severe enough that they need the advice of a health care provider, but not so severe that they need emergency department level of care," Lisa MacSween said in an email Saturday.

The clinic will be held at the St. FX Health Centre, also known as the Bloomfield Centre, on Saturdayfrom 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. AT by appointment only.

Appointments can only be bookedby calling 902-870-7008between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The health authority said the clinic is not for people with chronic respiratory illness, general health concerns or COVID-19 testing or immunization.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported 133 new caseson Saturdayand one death.There are1,232 active cases.There are 40people in hospital, 13in ICU.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 23 new cases on Saturday, with no one in hospital related to the virus.
• Prince Edward Islandreported 31 new cases on Friday, a single-day record for the province.There are 75active cases, P.E.I.'s highest active case count since the pandemic was declared.