COVID Alert app now available in Nova Scotia

The COVID Alert app is now available in Nova Scotia, the province announcedThursday.

The phone app will allowusers who test positive for COVID-19 to enter a code supplied by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

An alert will thenbe sent toany phone that hascome into close contact for at least 15 minutes with aperson who's tested positive.

The app will suggest how to proceed from there.

"As a province we have all shown a steadfast commitment to flattening the curve and keeping COVID activity low," Premier Stephen McNeilsaidin a newsrelease.

"As we learn to live with the virus, COVID Alert is another tool that will help keep ourselves and our communities safe and healthy."

Eight provinces have now signed on to use the app:Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, along with all four Atlantic provinces.

The release said COVID Alert does not collect personal or health information and does not know or track the location, name or contacts of the user. Prominent Halifax-based privacy lawyer David Fraser hasencouraged Canadians to download the app.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, had previously described the app as "another tool in our toolbox" when it comes to slowing the spread of COVID-19, but said it was not a "golden solution" that would solve everything.

"I would encourage Nova Scotians who are able, to download and use COVID Alert as one measure to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our province," said Strang in Thursday's release.

"Nova Scotians are reminded that they should continue to follow all public health measures in place, regardless if they use the COVID Alert app."

No new cases, one recovery

One more person in Nova Scotia has recovered from COVID-19 as no new cases were reported Thursday.

In a news release, Public Health said 907 tests were completed at Nova Scotia Health Authoritylabs a big jump from the 401 tests completed the previous day and the largest number of tests in more than a week.

Three active cases are left in the province, with one person currently hospitalized in intensive care.

On Wednesday, Strang said despite growing outbreaks in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia has no plans to close the border.

He saidthe outbreaks donot pose anincreased risk to Nova Scotiansat this time because there is no evidence of community spread.

The latest cases of the virus in Nova Scotia were reported on Saturday. Two of those cases were related to travel and a third was a close contact of the travellers, according to the Department of Health and Wellness. All three have been self-isolating.

The latest numbers from around the Atlantic bubble are:

• New Brunswickhad eight new cases on Wednesday, and therewere a total of 90 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
• P.E.I. had no new cases reported as of Tuesday. There were three active cases on P.E.I.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported no new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and had eight known active cases.

Symptoms

Anyone with one of the following symptoms of COVID-19 should visit theCOVID-19 self-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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