People Aged 40 to 54 Now Eligible to Book AstraZeneca Vaccine

(AP Photo)

Starting today, April 30, people aged 40 to 54 can book appointments for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at participating physician and pharmacy clinics across Nova Scotia.  The province says AstraZeneca vaccine appointments remain open to people 55 to 64 years old. Appointments for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at clinics across the province are open to people aged 55 and older.  Appointments for COVID-19 vaccines will be released continuously as vaccine supply is confirmed.  COVID-19 vaccination appointments must be made online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vaccination or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.  Appointments cannot be booked directly through a community clinic, pharmacy or physician. Walk-ins will be turned away.

 

70 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Nova Scotia Thursday  

Seventy new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Nova Scotia on Thursday.  Fifty-nine of those cases are in Central Zone, nine cases are in Eastern Zone, and two cases are in Northern Zone.  There is community spread in Central Zone. The Eastern, Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread. Nova Scotia has 548 active cases of COVID-19 with fourteen people in hospital, including four in ICU.  Public Health is advising of more potential COVID-19 exposure locations in Truro.  Anyone who worked at or visited these locations during the specified times should book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.  The locations are:

•               Canadian Tire Truro (90 Robie St, Truro) on April 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
•               Sma’knis Trading Shop (211 Abenaki Rd, Truro) on April 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
•               Starbucks Truro (63 Robie St, Truro) on April 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

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

 

Nova Scotia at ‘critical’ turning point in COVID-19 pandemic: chief medical officer

Nova Scotians are at a crucial turning point, the province’s chief medical officer of health warned in yesterday Covid-19 briefing. Dr. Robert Strang said what happens next could go “one of two ways.” Nova Scotians’ collective actions, he said, will determine the path to come.  “Either we get things under control now and we can loosen restrictions as we head into the summer, or we don’t,” he told reporters. “We need to closely follow the restrictions. It’s critical — lives, jobs, businesses and our health-care system are all at stake.”  Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Strang will provide another update today – Friday, April 30, at 2 p.m.

 

Monument unveiled at N.S. base to recall lives lost in naval helicopter crash

The black granite, six-faced memorial is four feet tall, with the height meant to evoke the fourth month of the year, as the crash occurred on April 29, 2020 in the Ionian Sea.  The top of the obelisk at the entrance of Canadian Forces Base Shearwater in Nova Scotia includes the crest of the Cyclone helicopter, with its call sign Stalker 22 embedded in the stone.  Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Kevin Hagen, Capt. Brenden MacDonald, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, and Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke died in the crash.  Some family members who live in the Halifax area, or who travelled to Nova Scotia and self-isolated, visited the monument on Wednesday in small groups, and a virtual ceremony was pre-recorded and released for the anniversary on Thursday.  The monument was unveiled for public viewing by two Canadian Forces members at 1:52 p.m. local time, the hour the helicopter went down near HMCS Fredericton off the coast of Greece. (The Canadian Press)

 

A new report says that unemployment rate for recent university graduates in the Maritime provinces has gone up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings released Thursday by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission say the percentage of unemployed graduates two years after completing their program was higher for the class of 2018 at 14 per cent. Previous surveys from the commission found that two years after graduation, the class of 2012 had an eight per cent unemployment rate, and for the class of 2014 it was nine per cent. Commission CEO Catherine Stewart says the increase in unemployment for recent graduates can be tied to the pandemic’s effect on education, employment and the economy. The report also says 55 per cent of recent graduates reported a change in their financial situation as a result of the pandemic. Thirty per cent reported they used too much, or all, of their savings, while 12 per cent took on more debt in the midst of the pandemic. (The Canadian Press)

 

Small drop in the price of gas in N.S., diesel unchanged

The price of gas in Nova Scotia has gone down overnight, while diesel remains unchanged. The new minimum price for regular self-serve gas in $1.264 per litre in the local area, down one tenth of a cent from last week. The price for a litre of diesel holds at $1.157.

 

Spring Lobster Season Delayed

Photo by Amy Fraser of the Glass Glider’93 out of Skinners Cove

The opening of the spring lobster season is being delayed until Monday (or Tuesday).  Another call is planned Saturday, to decide for Monday.  Trap setting day for the season was originally planned today, but was delayed due to expected poor weather conditions.

 

Due to the current public health restrictions, the Municipality of Pictou County says they will not be issuing any landfill vouchers until after May 12.  This is subject to change depending on public health restrictions.