N.S. reports 2 deaths, 59 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday

On Monday, Nova Scotia reported two deaths related to COVID-19. A man in his 60s was a resident of the East Cumberland Lodge long-term care home in Pugwash. Also, a man in is 70s in Western Zone has died; he was not a resident of a long-term care home.  The province also reported 59 new cases of COVID-19 and 58 recoveries since the last update on Friday.   Of the new cases, 38 are in the northern zone and 21 are in the central zone. The province said there is a new cluster of cases in a localized community in northern zone and evidence of limited community spread in Halifax.  Nova Scotia has 171 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, 13 people are in hospital, including four in ICU.

Over the past three days, nine schools were notified of an exposure(s) at their school.  One of those schools that received an exposure notification with the latest Covid update from the province is Northumberland Regional High School.  In such cases, all staff, parents and guardians are notified of potential exposures if a positive case (student, teacher or staff) was at the school while infectious.

COVID PRECAUTION NOTIFICATIONS have been issued for some sites in the province, including:

• Rath Eastlink Community Centre – aquatics area only (625 Abenaki Rd., Truro) on Nov. 24 between 3:15 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.
• Boston Pizza (68 Robie St., Truro) on Nov. 22 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

All potential exposure notifications are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures

Starting today, unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won’t be able to board a plane or train in Canada.  There are some exceptions, including valid medical exemptions, travel to remote communities only accessible by plane, and those transiting through Canada en route to another destination.   Most people who qualify for an exemption will need a recent COVID-19 test.  The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers, who could board as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their trip.  (The Canadian Press)

 

Province-Wide Day of Action November 30 in Support of Long-Term Care and Community Services

CUPE members who work in long-term care and community services will hold rallies across the province today as part of a “Day of Action.”  The “Day of Action” is calling on the Nova Scotia government to take immediate action to support long-term care workers and residents.  Louise Riley, chair of CUPE’s Long-Term Care and Community Services Coordinating Committee, says the province must act now to increase staffing levels and wages. The rallies are scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. and the locations include: Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow and the Office of Community Services Minister Karla MacFarlane in Pictou.

 

Desmond inquiry: Nova Scotia has no specific mental health program for Black people

An inquiry investigating why a mentally unstable former soldier killed his family and himself in 2017 has heard that Nova Scotia does not offer its Black population any culturally specific programs for maintaining mental health or preventing intimate partner violence.  The provincial inquiry has had some focus on the role race played in the deaths of Afghanistan war veteran Lionel Desmond; his wife, their 10-year-old daughter, and Desmond’s mother, Brenda — all of whom were Black.  Among other things, the inquiry has been asked to determine if Desmond and his family had access to appropriate mental health services and to domestic violence intervention services. (The Canadian Press)