DR. STRANG AND PREMIER SAY PICTOU COUNTY SENIORS WILL GET VACCINATED – STRANG SAYS “IT’S A MONTHS-LONG PROGRAM, SO HAVE A LITTLE PATIENCE.” (UPDATED AT 2:05 PM FRIDAY)
PREMIER IAIN RANKIN SAYS he understands there are concerns with people aged 80 and over from Pictou County being told to drive to either Truro or Antigonish for their COVID vaccinations in the weeks ahead. All three Pictou County Tory MLAs complained about the lack of COVID vaccination facilities being set up closer to their constituents in an open letter to Premier Rankin today. The Premier says his people are doing their best to see what solutions are possible. Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang says his team has chosen what they deemed to be the 10 most logical Nova Scotia locations for older people to get their inoculations, and he realizes it’s an hour long-drive to Truro and Antigonish for some Pictou County seniors. Dr. Strang adds the other options that could alleviate the situation include using pharmacies and doctors’ offices as vaccination sites. But people will need to be patient, because “we’re only at the beginning of this vaccination program. ” (Stingray News with photo from Canadian Press)
JOHNSON & JOHNSON SINGLE DOSE VACCINE NOW APPROVED (Updated Friday Afternoon)
Health Canada has approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson and Johnson, saying it has the evidence showing the vaccine is both safe and effective against the novel coronavirus that causes the disease.
It is the fourth vaccine to be approved in Canada and the first and only one Canada has purchased that requires just a single dose.
Canada has pre-purchased 10 million doses, with options to buy another 28 million.
The vaccine can be stored and transported at refrigerated temperatures for at least three months, facilitating distribution across the country, Health Canada noted in a statement Friday morning.
It has been approved for use in adults over the age of 18 and clinical trials are underway to see if it will be safe for children, officials said Friday during a briefing. (Canadian Press)
The people at the Exhibitions Association of Nova Scotia are telling us they won’t be hosting any of their traditional exhibitions this year, and COVID is once again getting the blame. Despite that, decision makers say that doesn’t stop any of Nova Scotia’s traditional exhibitions and fairs from holding smaller events that meet public health rules. So keep an eye out for some for those downsized events is the best advice at this point.
Anyone who was on Air Canada flight 7560 departing from Montreal on Feb. 24 (6:59 p.m.) and arriving in Halifax (9:42 p.m.) may have been exposed to COVID. Passengers in rows 20-26, seats C, D and F are asked to immediately visit https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en to book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms. All other passengers on this flight should continue to self-isolate as required 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, March 10th. (next Wednesday)
NEW GLASGOW POLICE TRACKING CULPRITS IN TWO CASES OF VANDALISM
New Glasgow Police and Crimestoppers need your help with a vandalism crime that took place last month. It happened around 8 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, February 7th as a vehicle caused damage to the Africentric Heritage Park lawn, on Vale Road, New Glasgow.
Later that morning Regional Police responded to a similar complaint nearby, when the same vehicle, caused damage to lawn at the Garden Suites on Marsh Street, New Glasgow. (Both cases shown in police photos above)
New Glasgow Regional Police are asking anyone who has any information on who’s responsible for the property damage is asked to contact them at 902-752-1941, or to stay anonymous, use the Crimestoppers System. (1-800-222-TIPS)
WAYNE GRETZKY’S FATHER DIES
Walter Gretzky, the well-known Canadian hockey father, who taught and nurtured the Great One, has died. He was 82.
The father of Wayne Gretzky became a name himself, a constant in Wayne’s world. As Wayne’s star ascended, Walter remained a blue-collar symbol of a devoted hockey parent in a country where they’re almost everywhere. Wayne Gretzky confirmed his father’s death last night.
( Above, Walter Gretzky speaks at the funeral of Celtic Music Legend John Allan Cameron in 2006, held in Pickering, Ontario. Canadian Press Photo)
GAS PRICES UP AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND, DIESEL DOWN IN PRICE
The world price of oil rose by almost three-dollars a barrel yesterday, and gas prices are up as a result, as we head into the first weekend of March. Gas is now $125.2 for regular self-serve in our area, a bump of 1.7 cents. Diesel is lower in price by just over a penny, now sitting at $117.2 per litre.
RCMP OFFER TIPS DURING FRAUD PREVENTION MONTH
If you’re going to get ripped off by scam artists, the month of March is an ironic time to fall victim, because this is Fraud Prevention Month. So RCMP and New Glasgow Regional Police will be offering some advice to protect us from scammers.
If you get a call or an email from a stranger, these are the red flags to watch and listen for – to tip you off that it’s fraud. Payment type is number one – Fraudsters often request payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards or E-Transfer.
The others are:
Urgency – Police say we need to be suspicious if any email, text or phone call includes a sense of urgency.
Unsolicited or unknown Messages claiming to be from a business or group that you haven’t previously dealt with are also a warning sign.
Threats – of arrest or deporting you or suspending one of your government accounts often come from these scammers, as they pretend they have the ability to target your travel visa or your tax accounts IF the person calling doesn’t get their payment
