BOOKING A COVID VACCINATION VERY DIFFICULT AS PROVINCE TRIES TO RE-VAMP ITS ONLINE SYSTEM

Older Nova Scotians in many parts of the province were able to start booking their vaccinations against COVID this morning, but the government’s website had to be taken down when too many people tried to book at the same time.   There is a toll-free number set up instead, (1-833-797-7772) but even that is overloaded as people ages 80 and over trying to book their COVID inoculations as quickly as they can.  Public Health officials say they’re doing the best they can, and have had their technicians working on the problem for several hours.

BARN DESTOYED BY EARLY-SUNDAY FIRE NEAR RIVER JOHN

A barn between River John and Marshville along the Sunrise Trail has been completely destroyed, as a fire erupted yesterday morning that killed chickens inside and wrecked equipment amid gusty winds.  River John Fire Chief John MacLellan says it was “fairly large fire, but it was fully engulfed when fire crews got there. Everything in the barn was lost, including some chickens and equipment like a tractor and truck.  Tatamagouche, Scotsburn and Caribou fire volunteers were also out in the darkness to help out. (facebook photo)

SHOOTING IN ESKASONI KEEPS RCMP BUSY

Mounties in Eskasoni, Cape Breton are investigating a shooting around 10:25 last night that left a man injured. RCMP officers found a man inside the home who’d been shot through a window. He’s been taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.  They’re still working on a description of the shooter.

 

Nova Scotia reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and three new cases yesterday as tighter restrictions came onstream.  The province now has 38 active cases. The three newest cases show up as one each in the Central, Eastern and Northern zones. Two people are hospitalized and in ICU related to the virus.  Meanwhile, Public Health is holding pop-up testing at the Halifax Convention Centre from 3:30 this afternoon to 9:30 this evening, as business and social restrictions remain throughout HRM and nearby bedroom communities from Elmsdale and Enfield down to Hubbards.  Premier Iain Rankin is warning against complacency because of the slight decreases of new cases over the weekend,  especially since he and Dr. Strang announced 18 new people being infected in the final two days of last week.  On top of this, the number of people getting a pop-up test on both Friday and Saturday was four times higher than the daily average.

COVID appointments can be booked at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ by choosing the asymptomatic option. Rapid testing pop-up sites continue to be set up around the province as well. More information on testing can be found at https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting .

Visit https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had any symptoms of COVID.  The latest exposure site list is also found using our website link, http://nshealth.ca/covid-exposures

Nova Scotia’s new guidelines for specific groups of travellers entering the province come into effect today.

It means people on the following list will be mandated to take multiple COVID-19 tests.

• All rotational workers must take three COVID-19 tests during their 14-day mandatory self-isolation
• Specialized workers will take up to three tests depending on how long they’re staying in Nova Scotia
• Parents and children (age 4 and older) whose child custody visits involve travel outside of Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island must take three COVID-19 tests

 

PEI CLAMPS DOWN IN SERIOUS PUSH TO STOP COVID OUTBREAKS

PEI is closing schools and not permitting gatherings for the next 72 hours, as well as encouraging people to stay at home as much as possible, as it deals with two COVID clusters in Summerside and Charlottetown.

Five new cases were announced on the Island just yesterday, bringing PEI’s total to 18 cases.

 

EXPERTS SAY VACCINES ARE DIFFERENT, BUT ALL WILL HELP CONTROL CORONAVIRUS

Experts are telling us the efficacy ratings of the various COVID vaccines coming into Canada are not something we should stress about when it comes to how they’ll protect us.  Dr. Isaac Bogoch is an infection disease expert at U of T, who says the numbers are not the only consideration.  As it stands, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is, in fact,  66 per cent effective, while, Pfizer and Moderna both have an efficacy rating of 95 per cent.  Compare that with flu shots, that are often 40 to 60 per cent effective.   And Bogoch says the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could still do great things, because it only needs a single shot to work, making it a simple and more attractive way to keep Canadians safe sooner and simpler, rather than later, using a 2-shot system. Health Canada regulators are working on a step-by-step approval for the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, since they were just approved in the U-S late last week.

 

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS READY FOR LOCAL NOMINATIONS

Presented by the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education, the Excellence in Teaching Awards is our esteemed recognition program to acknowledge our outstanding educators who demonstrate creative, innovative and effective teaching. Does this sound like a teacher you know?

Nominate online today at: https://www.ccrce.ca/excellence-in-teaching.

 

The recent confirmation by the CEO of the Stanfield’s Clothing plant in Truro that they’ve lost a contract to sew gowns for frontline medical people during the pandemic is prompting lots of movement behind-the-scenes this week.   When we interviewed Mr. Stanfield on Friday, he told us he’s been working the phones to try and get a replacement contract in place, so the 150 layoffs don’t have to drag on.  Also, the area’s M-P, Lenore Zann says she’s also contacting several federal departments to see if there if there are any other PPE contracts the company can bid for, especially since Mr. Stanfield has told us he already has the raw material and a well-trained workforce.   As it stands this week, Stanfields will continue to keep its non-PPE payroll at close to 220 people, with an eye to hopefully reversing some of those gown-sewing layoffs in the months to come.

 

ICONIC BUILDING ALONG HIGHWAY 101 IN WINDSOR SUFFERS DAMAGE 

A major housing or possible business centre being located at the old textile mill adjacent to Highway One in Windsor suffered a setback with the recent collapse of a section of its roof.  But Mike Gallant at United Gulf Developments, which bought the building 3 years ago, says it’s still up in the air whether an ongoing assessment of the well-known building will mean tearing it down, renovating the facility or selling it.  Gallant, who is a structural engineer, says until the collapse, he had been leading that detailed study. Windsor-West Hants Mayor Abraham Zebian is hoping it won’t deter something good from happening with the facility, which has become an icon for anyone travelling through the Valley from the rest of the province. (CBC photo)