Nova Scotia reports 8 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday

A staff member at a long-term care facility is among eight new cases of COVID-19 reported Saturday in Nova Scotia.

The sources of all the new infections have been identified.  

Five of the cases are in the eastern health zone with three of those related to travel outside the region and one to travel outside of Canada. The other case is a close contact of a case reported previously. 

One case is in the western health zone and is related to travel outside the region.

There are two cases in the central health zone. One is related to travel outside of Canada.

The other case in the central health zone is a close contact of a case previously reported and is a staff member at  Glasgow Hall, a long-term care facility in Dartmouth.

There are now 44 known active cases in the province.

Most residents vaccinated

According to a news release, most of the residents of the facility have been fully vaccinated.

The release says that all residents of the facility are being isolated and cared for in their rooms as a precaution. Staff and residents will be tested for COVID-19.

In the release, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said he is grateful most of the residents of Glasgow Hall are vaccinated.

"Based on recent experience in Canada, I anticipate that the vaccine will prevent widespread transmission in this facility and that anyone who does contract the virus will only have mild symptoms," he said.

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 2,337 COVID-19 tests on Friday. 

New rules for mask use

During Friday's COVID-19 briefing with Premier Iain Rankin, Strang announced that masks must be worn in outdoor places where physical distancing is not possible, such as farmers' markets and festivals.

Masks will also be required at restaurants and bars, both indoors and outdoors on patios, including when entering, exiting or getting up from a table. Strang said masks can come off once patrons are seated and are eating or drinking.

"This is due to the now-common variant strains and their much greater ability to be transmitted between one person and another," Strang said.

12 new potential exposures

Nova Scotia Health announced a series of potential COVID-19 exposures late Saturday, all of which are in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Anyone who worked at or visited the following locations on the specified dates and times must immediately book a COVID-19 test on the self-assessment website or by contacting 811, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms. Public health also advised that these individuals must self-isolate while they wait for test results, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

• Dairy Queen Grill and Chill at 3270 Highway 2, Fall River, HRM, on April 15 between 4:30-6:30 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.
• Boston Pizza at 1858 Granville St, Halifax, on April 13 between 7-10 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 27.

Public health is also encouraging anyone who worked at or visited the following locations on the specified dates and times to book a COVID-19 test on the self-assessment website or by contacting 811, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Individuals who were at the following locations during the listed times do not have to self-isolate while they await test results, unless they have symptoms of COVID-19.

• Michaels in Dartmouth Crossing at 15 Lemlair Row Rd, Dartmouth, on April 16 between 1:30-3 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 30.
• Sackville Public Library at 636 Sackville Dr, Lower Sackville, on April 14 between 1:30-7:30 p.m. and April 15 between 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.
• LilyPond Vintage Furniture & Home Décor at 589 Nova Scotia Trunk 2 Unit 2, Elmsdale, on April 15 between 5:30-7 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.
• Lawton's Drugs & Canada Post Outlet at 157 Cobequid Rd, Lower Sackville, on April 15 between noon-2 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.
• Sobeys Elmsdale at 269 NS-214, Elmsdale, on April 15 between 6:30-8 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.
• Halifax Shopping Centre at 7001 Mumford Rd Unit #722, Halifax, on April 13 between 5-8 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 27.
• Walmart in Bayers Lake at 220 Chain Lake Dr, Halifax, on April 13 between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 27.

Anyone who was on the following flights in the specified rows and seats should book a COVID-19 test on the self-assessment website or by contacting 811, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms. 

• Air Canada Flight 604 from Toronto on April 16 (8:11 a.m.) to Halifax (11:10 a.m.). Passengers in rows 2-13 seats C, D, E and F. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 30.
• West Jet Flight 3346 from Toronto on April 16 (9:00 a.m.) to Halifax (12:21 p.m.). Passengers in rows 1-7 seats A, B and C. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 30.
• Air Canada Flight 624 from Toronto on April 14 (9:30 p.m.) arriving in Halifax (12:05 a.m. April 15). Passengers in rows 20-26 seats A, C and D. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 29.

All other passengers on this flight should continue to self-isolate as required and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswick reported 11 new cases on Saturday for a total of 150 known active cases. Twenty people are in hospital, including 12 in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported three new cases Friday for a total of 18 active cases. One person is in hospital.
• P.E.I. announced on Friday that it has a person in hospital related to COVID-19 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. The province has seven active cases.