**11am Update**Province Announces 38 New Covid-19 Cases Thursday
Thirty-eight new cases of COVID-19 are being reported in Nova Scotia today. Thirty-three cases are in the Central Zone. Four are related to travel, nineteen are close contacts of previously reported cases, and ten are under investigation, two of which were identified at schools in the Central Zone. Three cases are in Eastern Zone and are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. One case is in Northern Zone and is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. The person is self-isolating, as required. One case is in Western Zone and is related to travel outside of Canada. The person is self-isolating, as required. One of today’s cases is a confirmed UK variant case and is related to travel. As of today (Thursday, April 22nd, 2021), Nova Scotia has 111 active cases of COVID-19.
N.S. Premier “Very Concerned” About Rising Covid-19 Cases
The province reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday (Wednesday), the highest daily count in the province since November. Premier Iain Rankin says he’s “very concerned” about the rising number of new cases, adding the province is seeing early signs of community spread and Nova Scotians must strictly follow all public health protocols to get back on track, “especially in the greater Halifax region.” Nineteen of the new cases are in the central health zone. Four cases are related to travel outside the region. Nine of the new cases are close contacts of previously reported cases. Six of the cases in the central zone are under investigation. There are three cases in the northern health zone. One of the cases is related to travel outside Canada — the other two are under investigation. Three new cases were reported in the eastern health zone and are all related to travel outside the region. There are now 79 active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Three people are in hospital as a result of the virus, none of them in intensive care. On Wednesday evening, the province announced 2 additional cases connected to 2 schools in the Central Zone. The cases were identified after the cut-off for the day, so they will be included in Thursday’s COVID-19 numbers. Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang have scheduled a briefing for this afternoon at 1:30pm. This update will be livestreamed on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at various locations in the Central and Western Zones. All potential exposure notifications are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures.
New restrictions on who can travel to Nova Scotia comes into effect this morning (Thursday, April 22nd at 8 a.m.). People will not be allowed to enter the province unless their trip is deemed essential or they are permanent residents of the province. Only those travelling from P.E.I. or Newfoundland and Labrador, where COVID-19 case counts are low, are exempt from the new rules. Nova Scotia residents are also being told not to leave the province unless it is necessary. The measures will be in place for four weeks.
The 2021 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship, scheduled for May 6-16 in Halifax and Truro, is being cancelled due to concerns over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Premier Iain Rankin withdrew permission for the event to take place in the province at this time because of the evolving situation with COVID-19 and the circulation of variants. “It was my recommendation the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championships be cancelled,” said Premier Rankin. “I sincerely regret the short notice, but the rapidly changing environment dictates this decision in the interest of the safety of Nova Scotians and participants. We have worked diligently with Hockey Canada to ensure we can stage a safe and successful world hockey championship and they have been a great partner, but the safety of the Nova Scotia public and participants is paramount and is the reason for our decision.” Officials in the Premier’s Office were in touch with Hockey Canada and indicated the hope that the tournament will be rescheduled in Nova Scotia at a future date.
New provincial figures indicate Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 vaccination program has picked up its pace in recent weeks after an admitted slow start. Tracey Barbrick, the associate deputy minister for Nova Scotia’s vaccine strategy, said in an interview Wednesday the province administered 14,742 doses on Tuesday, the highest one-day total since the start of the campaign. Barbrick says 23.6 per cent of people who are eligible for a shot have received at least one dose, which is just slightly below the national average of about 25 per cent. She says Nova Scotia is roughly one week behind other provinces because it held back about 25,000 doses for booster shots before changing its strategy to a four-month interval between first and second doses. Barbrick says a recent increase in supply of vaccine allowed the province to move from administering 11,000 doses the week of March 14 to an expected 65,000 doses this week. And despite an interruption in the supply of the Moderna vaccine, Premier Rankin has said the province remains on track to reach its goal of giving all Nova Scotians who want vaccine at least one shot by the end of June. (The Canadian Press)
Bump at the Pumps in New Brunswick
Fuel prices have increased in New Brunswick. Regular self-serve gas is up 3.3 cents from last week. Diesel increased 4.2 cents per litre. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
Guysborough County District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 46-year-old man
RCMP photo (submitted)
Guysborough County District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 46-year-old Blair Richardson, who was last seen on April 16 in Aspen, on Wallace Lake Dr. Richardson is described as white, 6-foot-0, 240 pounds, has blue eyes and short brown hair. Richardson also wears glasses. He was last seen wearing a navy blue sweater, denim blue jeans and baseball cap with an unknown hockey team’s logo on the front. Richardson also has access to a vehicle, which is a grey 2002 Honda CRV with Nova Scotia plate FXV348. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Blair Richardson is asked to contact Guysborough County RCMP at 902-522-2200. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.
Pat Dunn Seeking 4th term Representing Pictou Centre
(Facebook photo)
Pat Dunn will be on the ballot for the PCs in the next election. The Pictou Centre MLA took to Facebook last night to announce that he will be seeking a 4th term representing the constituency of Pictou Centre.
N.S. Government Announces Plans to Create 61 New Protected Areas
The provincial government says it intends to designate 61 more wilderness areas, nature reserves and provincial parks across Nova Scotia in an aim to protect the unique biodiversity and habitats for mainland moose, Atlantic salmon, migratory birds and other species. The announcement made on Earth Day includes 2 local sites – Merigomish Provincial Park and Mackenzie Beach Provincial Park in Pictou County. A 60-day, online consultation will launch soon, and Nova Scotians will be notified.
The following proposed sites will go through consultation:
— Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area (expansion), Halifax Regional Municipality
— Devil’s Jaw Wilderness Area (expansion), Hants County
— Fourchu Coast Wilderness Area (expansion), Richmond County
— Trout Brook Wilderness Area (expansion), Inverness County
— Upper Tantallon Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Port La Tour Provincial Park, Shelburne County
— Carters Beach Provincial Park, Queens County
— Black Duck Cove Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— Cape Jack Provincial Park, Antigonish County
— Cookville Provincial Park, Lunenburg County
— Marble Mountain Provincial Park, Inverness County
— Ross Ferry Provincial Park, Victoria County
The following sites are also intended for protection:
— Douglas Meadow Brook Wilderness Area, Colchester County
— Eighteen Mile Brook Wilderness Area, Queens County
— East River St. Marys Nature Reserve, Guysborough County
— Minard Brook Nature Reserve, Queens County
— Ponhook Lake Nature Reserve, Queens and Lunenburg Counties
— South Branch Meadows Nature Reserve, Colchester County
— Sugar Harbour Islands Nature Reserve, Guysborough County
— Tobacco Island Nature Reserve, Guysborough County
— Andrews Island Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— Belfry Beach Provincial Park, Cape Breton
— Big Pond Beach Provincial Park, Cape Breton
— Blind Bay Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Brule Shore Provincial Park, Colchester County
— False Bay Provincial Park, Richmond County
— Hay Cove Provincial Park, Richmond County
— Herring Cove Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Mackenzie Beach Provincial Park, Pictou County
— Mahoney Beach Provincial Park, Antigonish County
— Merigomish Provincial Park, Pictou County
— Mickey Hill Provincial Park, Annapolis County
— Lower East Chezzetcook Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Paces Lake Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— Petit-de-Gras Provincial Park, Richmond County
— Port L’Hebert Provincial Park, Queens County
— Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park, Richmond County
— Port Shoreham Beach Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— Tor Bay Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— Uisge Bàn Falls Provincial Park, Victoria County
— Ainslie Point Provincial Park, Inverness County
— Baker Inlet Provincial Park, Shelburne County
— Blanche Provincial Park, Shelburne County
— Blomidon Lookoff Provincial Park, Kings County
— Bulls Head Provincial Park, Shelburne County
— Cape George Provincial Park, Antigonish County
— Cockscomb Lake Provincial Park, Hants County
— Fundy Provincial Park, Annapolis County
— Gaspereau River Provincial Park, Cape Breton
— Irish Cove Provincial Park, Richmond County
— Kingsburg Beach Provincial Park, Lunenburg County
— MacCormack Provincial Park, Victoria County
— MacCormacks Beach Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
— MacElmon’s Pond Provincial Park, Colchester County
— New Harbour Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— North Mountain Provincial Park, Annapolis County
— Orangedale Provincial Park, Inverness County
— Pearts Cove Provincial Park, Guysborough County
— Pinehurst Provincial Park, Lunenburg County
— Roseway Beach Provincial Park, Shelburne County
— Trout Brook Provincial Park, Inverness County
Federal Budget Faces Second Confidence Test Today
A Conservative amendment set to be put to a vote today will be the second of three tests of confidence in Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government. A Bloc Quebecois sub-amendment calling for higher transfer payments for health care and a boost to old age security was defeated by a vote of 297-37 yesterday. The NDP is planning today to unanimously oppose the Conservative amendment that calls for the budget be revised to ramp up vaccination during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of spawning jobs and economic growth. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh reiterated yesterday that his party will prop up the government to avoid triggering a pandemic election. A third opportunity to pass judgment on the massive budget comes Monday, when the House votes on the main motion to approve the government’s budgetary policy. (The Canadian Press)
A Pictou County woman has won a national grilled cheese sandwich contest!
The Great Canadian Grilled Cheese Challenge was part of Stratford, Ontario’s virtual Canadian Dairy Expo. Donna Rivers MacDonald of Centurymac Farm in Greenhill won the Challenge with her lobster grilled cheese sandwich.
