- Traffic Note
Work on the traffic lights at Munroe Ave. and Stellarton Road started at 8 o’clock this morning. Traffic delays are expected and drivers should avoid that area if they’re pressed for time. There’s also work on the Cowan Road-Truro Road area of Westville, so please be careful and allow extra time in that area.
WEEKEND FIRE GUTS FARMHOUSE IN SALT SPRINGS AREA – RED CROSS STEPS IN TO HELP
Three people have been displaced by a weekend fire that gutted a farmhouse along Highway 4 near Salt Springs. The couple and a teenaged daughter are staying with relatives for now and have been helped by Red Cross volunteers.
They were not home at the time so there were no injuries from the blaze, reported shortly after 10 o’clock Saturday evening.
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for more volunteers in Pictou County and throughout the Atlantic provinces to help people impacted by events like residential fires or other disasters and emergencies. More information is online at redcross.ca/volunteer.
NOVA SCOTIA HOLDING ITS OWN ON COVID, BUT TWO NEW GLASGOW LOCATIONS ADDED TO THE LIST OF POSSIBLE EXPOSURE SITES ACROSS THE PROVINCE
ALSO, PUBLIC TESTING EXTENDED ACROSS NOVA SCOTIA FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK
Nova Scotians with no COVID-19 symptoms have more time to get tested. The deadline to book an appointment has been extended to Friday, Dec. 18: https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
Asymptomatic testing is available for people who:
— do not have symptoms
— have not travelled outside the Atlantic provinces within the past 14 days
— have not visited a potential exposure location
— have not been in contact with someone who has tested positive
People who have a lot of close social interaction are especially encouraged to get tested.
Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang
(Communications NS Photo)
The latest provincial test results show six new COVID infections. There is one case in the Western Zone and three are in the Central Zone. Luckily for us, none of the new positive results is here in the Northern Zone. But as we noted on our social media pages Friday, two more New Glasgow locations are on the COVID possibility of exposure list. They are the New Glasgow Superstore and the Canadian Tire. So you’re asked to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 if you were at either store last Sunday (Dec 6th) between 12:30 and 3:30 that afternoon. If you were exposed to COVID at either store, you could still develop infectious symptoms up to and including December 20th.
FULL DETAILS ON LOCAL SITES, PLUS A LINK TO ALL POSSIBLE COVID LOCATIONS IN NS
- Atlantic Superstore (394 Westville Road, New Glasgow) on Dec. 6 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Dec. 20.
- Canadian Tire (Highland Square Mall, 699 Westville Road, New Glasgow) on Dec. 6 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Dec. 20th.
Anyone who was on the following flights in the specified rows/seats is asked to continue to self-isolate for the 14-days required, and closely monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- West Jet Flight WS 670 travelling on Dec. 9th from Calgary (1:30 p.m.) to Toronto (7:15 p.m.). Passengers in rows 12-18, in seats D, E, and F are asked to continue to self-isolate and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus on this flight on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Dec 23rd.
- West Jet Flight WS 254 travelling from Toronto (Dec 9. at 9:45 p.m.) to Halifax (Dec. 10th at 12:48 a.m.). Passengers in rows 15-21 in seats A, B, and C are asked to continue to self-isolate and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus on this flight on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Dec 24th.
- All Nova Scotia potential exposure notifications are now listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures. Public Health is currently in the process of contacting all businesses listed below.
With six new cases yesterday and 7 on Saturday, only one of those weekend cases was here in the Northern Health Zone, and it was reported on Saturday from a person who had travelled outside the Atlantic Region. With that, Dr. Robert Strang says “Single-digit case numbers are a positive sign, but we cannot relax yet.” That’s because he says “COVID-19 is still in our communities, so we so we’ll need to stay diligent.
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY POULTRY PLANT CLOSED BY VIRUS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS
Eden Valley Poultry Plant in Berwick has been hit by a Coronavirus outbreak.
(Google street view photo)
Company officials at the Eden Valley Poultry processing plant in Berwick say they plan to keep the facility closed until at least December 28th because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. And that’s affecting shipments for about sixty Valley and area farms. A total of six coronavirus cases have been confirmed at the Berwick plant and staff are now waiting for the results of their latest tests. Premier Stephen McNeil says he knows this will be a challenge for the workers, farmers and other businesses that rely on the plant, but he says this virus can’t be allowed to spread. Re-testing is also on the agenda for the Eden Valley staff as things proceed.
GUNFIRE IN PICTOU LANDING AREA YESTERDAY PROMPTS ONE ARREST
RCMP say one person was arrested after at least one shot was fired late yesterday afternoon on the water in the Pictou Landing area. The RCMP’s Lisa Croteau says that suspect was taken into custody after that gunfire around 530 yesterday. Pictou Landing launched its own lobster fishery last month, and that season is slated to close today.
NEW GLASGOW POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE HATE CRIME
New Glasgow Regional Police arrested and charged a man and woman after an assault at a local Pool Hall shortly after midnight last Thursday and say it appears to be a hate-crime, based on the victim’s race.
- A 35-year-old woman is charged with an assault and possession of a drug.
- A 49-year-old man was arrested and is charged with an assault.
They’ve both been released from custody on strict conditions. New Glasgow Regional Police are continuing to investigate that assault as being “hate motivated” based upon the victim’s nationality.
RCMP INVESTIGATED RAILWAY CROSSING CRIMES IN ANTIGONISH COUNTY
RCMP are investigating after four incidents of tampering with railway crossings in the last week in Antigonish County. Police say they responded to three incidents reported on Wednesday and another on Friday, with the latest in the community of Monastery.
Antigonish RCMP determined that the lights at each crossing were tampered with to activate the crossing lights indicating that a train was coming, even though there was no train. On one occasion, the lights were tampered with to shorten the warning time of an approaching train by cutting that time in half.
PICTOU COUNTY CHRISTMAS FUND RAISES MORE THAN $45,000!
The Pictou County Christmas Fund’s virtual fundraising campaign featuring local artists wrapped up over the weekend, with a grand total of $45,200 raised in support of the Pictou East and West Food Banks. Due to the pandemic, the traditional telethon fundraiser was cancelled for 2020, but holiday cheer was shared virtually on the fund’s Facebook page and the community still showed lots of support with online and in person donations. The Christmas Fund has been raising money for over 40 years to help local families in need have a Christmas dinner. Anyone needing assistance this year can register directly with the Pictou County Food Bank, and they will be supplied with everything needed for a holiday meal. Food Bank volunteers can be reached at: (902) 755-2906 Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 8:30am-11:30am. **The last day to register before Christmas is Monday, December 21st.***
