DR. STRANG AND PREMIER STRENGTHEN ISOLATION RULES FOR INCOMING TRAVELLERS
WARN OF STRONGER REGULATIONS TO COME, AND EYEING SCHOOL RULES AS WELL
Health officials are getting hot under the collar about the behaviour of Nova Scotians on COVID-19. Premier Stephen McNeil says anybody quarantining as they come into Nova Scotia must either self-isolate at home, or if they’re isolating with other friends or family, everyone in the home must isolate for 14 days – beginning IMMEDIATELY. The Premier is calling the latest events a “very serious” COVID-19 situation, with a new cluster of infections in the Clayton Park area of Halifax. Dr. Robert Strang says “it’s a wake-up call for Nova Scotia and we’re at a critical tipping point.”
There is no change for:
— rotational workers who continue to have modified self-isolation, which includes contact with people in their households until further notice
— specialized workers who must self-isolate when they are not performing their critical, urgent work
— people who have exceptions to attend a funeral or be with an immediate family member who is nearing end of life but must self-isolate when not doing these activities
— people who are exempt from self-isolation under the public health order, such as military, police, first responders, truckers, flight crews, and others
Dr. Strang says the cluster in the Clayton Park-Rockingham area likely produced exposures in several business and other public locations across the HRM. The three most serious situations in metro are found on the provincial health website. Strang says the Bitter End Bar, Montana’s Restaurant in Bayer’s Lake and All Nations Gospel Church (Worshipping at St. Andrew’s United in Halifax) are all on the high-exposure list on recent dates, and people should be tested in those situations, and not just self-monitor. They’re even fast-tracking people who might have visited one of those locations.
Strang says there have been more than two dozen new infections in Nova Scotia since last week, and that’s not acceptable. (There are 16 active infections this morning – with 9 of those cases from the Cluster in Clayton Park) He says more stringent steps are coming if caseloads continue to climb. That could include switching the current school situation from regular classrooms with distancing, to a blended model of home-schooling and classroom, or even a complete shutdown of classrooms. That’s not imminent, but Dr. Strang says that’s a possibility, and if that happens, families will be well-warned. He also says the next 48 hours will certainly “tell the tale” on whether this province is officially dealing with Community Coronavirus Spread.
CORN MAZE FARM NEAR TRURO FIRES WORKER FOR FAKE COVID TEST CLAIMS
The case of COVID at Riverbreeze Farm, otherwise known as the Onslow Corn Maze and Fear Farm near Truro turns out to have been a fake. Owner Jim Lorraine says he wants to apologize to customers and says the employee who faked a positive COVID test result has been terminated. Lorraine says he can’t believe somebody would do that, and says it caused turmoil among his staff and threats to him and to his family members.
NEW VACCINE MEANS WE’LL NEED 2 SHOTS TO KEEP US SAFE NEXT SPRING – EXPERTS
There’s also word the new Pfizer vaccine against coronavirus that got positive feedback yesterday is still months away from preventing more deaths in Canada. Although, this country has ordered millions if doses from the pharmaceutical giant that’s now been pronounced 90 per cent effective in human trials. There’s word this morning we’ll need 2 shots to keep us safe.
The stock markets shot much higher yesterday, reacting to the news that at least there’s a vaccine showing promise that could be available to Canadians by next spring.
NEW GLASGOW POLICE FIND 600 NEEDLES NEAR LEGION
New Glasgow Regional Police have responded to a complaint of needles being found near the railway tracks behind the New Glasgow Legion area just North of George Street. The call came in around 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon (Monday) and police ended up finding about 600 needles. Constable Ken Macdonald says“ Teaching small children not to pick up these items….becomes extremely important to parents and or guardians. Police are requesting that anyone who finds a needle and would like assistance to properly dispose of it to contact police at 902 752-1941 or their local pharmacy for assistance. To properly dispose of needles, you can also visit the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia website located at https://pans.ns.ca/public/programs/safe-sharps.
TRUDEAU AND BIDEN TALK TRADE, NATO AND CHINA IN PHONE CALL
Prime Minister Trudeau and incoming President Joe Biden talked COVID-19 and trade yesterday, and the two leaders agreed to work closely on a number of other things, like energy and NATO. The prime minister is also asking Biden for closer cooperation on confronting China, especially Beijing’s move to jail Canadian citizens as retribution for Ottawa’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou on fraud charges. (Photo Credit – Global News)
Meanwhile, the Biden team is now considering legal action to start the transition process into the White House. An official says “Legal action is certainly a possibility, but there are other options also being considered. Legal experts say Donald Trump’s foot-dragging over unproven voting claims are a long-shot to succeed. The delay is costing the Biden team access to millions of dollars in federal funding and the ability to meet with officials at intelligence agencies and other departments. (with files from Global News)
CONSORTIUM THAT INCLUDES INDIGENOUS GROUPS TO BUY CLEARWATER SEAFOODS
Premium Brands Holdings Corp. and a group of Mi’kmaq First Nations led by the Membertou First Nation are buying Clearwater Seafoods Inc. for $1 billion, including debt.
The deal would be the largest investment in the seafood industry by a Canadian Indigenous group and comes eight months after Halifax-based Clearwater said it was exploring a possible sale.
Clearwater shareholders would receive $8.25 per share which represents a 60.2 per cent premium to the average volume-weighted average price for the 20-day period preceding the strategic review announcement on March 5.
The transaction has received unanimous approval of Clearwater’s board and is subject to approval by Clearwater shareholders in January.
The Mi’kmaq First Nations coalition, led by the Membertou First Nation, and Premium holdings will each acquire half ownership of Atlantic Canada’s largest fishing company that was founded in 1976.
OTTAWA’S HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION $$$ PLEASE PICTOU COUNTY OFFICIALS
Ottawa’s newest plan to spend $1.75 billion to help connect 98 per cent of Canadian homes and businesses to high-speed Internet by 2026 has the County of Pictou looking to apply for some of that cash. The County is currently working on a major plan to connect Pictou County on a sub-regional basis, with the goal of connecting all areas of the County. There’s hope that’ll come even faster, now that there’s increased federal help.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in this province and the rest of the country, Remembrance Day this year will look different. We won’t be able to attend Remembrance Day services across Nova Scotia in person this year. There will be one in Hopewell, and a vigil in the Town of Pictou at 10:45. Both of those include distancing and mask-wearing. Legion volunteers across most of the province are hoping we mark the occasion from home tomorrow. Today is the day they’re asking people to lay their wreaths at a local memorial site, so Legion members can arrange them in a formal display for tomorrow’s live-streaming of most local services.
The Salvation Army here in Pictou County is lending its kettles to a local legion branch. The President of Legion Branch 16 is Mike Murdock. He’s very grateful for The Salvation Army’s support, saying “The kettles are vital to the success of this year’s campaign” to raise money for veterans.
And Remembrance Day services at the province’s long-term-care facilities for veterans have been largely cancelled due to COVID-19.
More details on Remembrance Day for 2020 are available on our events section.
