Nova Scotia schools move to online learning until Jan. 17
Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has decided to delay the return of in-person learning in schools for one week. Students were supposed to go back to classrooms on Monday, but Premier Tim Houston announced yesterday that all students will learn from home until January 17th. The premier says his government made the change after hearing the concerns of families and staff about the system’s ability to deal with the highly infectious Omicron variant. In the meantime, the province is planning to purchase HEPA filtration systems for schools and provide a supply of three-ply masks for all children and staff.
The province is extending current COVID-19 restrictions until the end of January. Restrictions that took effect on December 22 were set to expire on January 12 but will now continue until January 31. No new restrictions have been added.
There are also changes in self-isolation requirements — changes the provinces says are based on the latest evidence that shows a person with the Omicron variant is most infectious in the couple of days before and after symptoms develop, and the virus transmits more quickly between cases and their susceptible contacts. The changes that take effect on Friday at 6 a.m. mean that most individuals who are fully vaccinated and children 11 years old or younger, will be able to leave their isolation after Day 7 if they have no symptoms, their symptoms are improving or there has been no fever for at least 24 hours. Those people who are immunocompromised, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will have to wait until after Day 10 if they meet the same criteria. As for close contacts, those who are fully vaccinated or under 12 with no symptoms no longer have to fully isolate while waiting for test results, but they should stay at home as much as possible.
On Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 842 new cases of COVID-19. They include 498 cases in Central Zone, 141 cases in Eastern Zone, 121 cases in Western Zone and 82 cases in Northern Zone. There are 45 people in hospital with eight in ICU. Of the 45 in hospital, 40 were admitted during the Omicron wave.
Booster Clinics Rolling Out Across Province
Health officials say new community clinics will begin providing booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine today in some parts of the province. Of note, a new community clinic will offer vaccine by appointment starting Monday, January 24 at the Nova Scotia Community College campus in Truro.. Some existing COVID-19 testing centres will also offer vaccine by appointment. Centres that will start vaccinations on Monday include Pictou County Assessment Centre in New Glasgow; Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro; and Antigonish Market Square in Antigonish. People who are 30 or older can book a booster dose at least 168 days after they received the second dose of their primary series. For African Nova Scotians and people in First Nations communities, the age for boosters is 18 and older. People can book primary series or booster appointments online at https://novascotia.ca/vaccination or by calling the toll-free line: 1-833-797-7772
Provinces to receive large shipments of rapid tests: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is ramping up delivery of rapid tests to the provinces as tests run scarce across the country and access to molecular tests is restricted. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says 140 million tests will be distributed in January on a per-capita basis. Trudeau says that’s triple the number provinces received in December. In its last fiscal update, the government earmarked $1.7 billion to secure a supply of about 180 million rapid tests. The prime minister also confirmed there are enough vaccine doses in Canada for everyone in the country to get their booster. Duclos says there will be enough child-sized doses for all kids aged five to 11 this month. (The Canadian Press)
Bump at the pumps in N.B.
Fuel prices in New Brunswick increased overnight. Gas is up 2.2 cents per litre. Diesel increased 1.3 cents. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
