Nova Scotia reports 165 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday
Nova Scotia reported 165 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. There were 138 cases in the central health zone, 16 in the eastern zone, six in the western zone and five in the northern zone. One of the cases in the central zone is a a home-care worker employed by Northwood long-term care facility in Halifax. There are now 1,626 known active cases in the province. There are 50 people in hospital, including seven in ICU. There were 227 cases announced Friday, the highest total of the pandemic, and 163 Saturday.
Nova Scotia’s borders are closing to all but essential travel today. The measure comes into effect at 8 a.m. Premier Iain Rankin announced the measure on Friday, as the province dealt with a surge of COVID-19 cases. He says the measures also apply to anyone who had planned on moving to the province. They also apply to parents from out-of-province who were hoping to pick up or drop off students. Under the new rules, rotational workers returning home from so-called outbreak zones — such as the oilsands hub of Fort McMurray, Alta. — must self-isolate for 14 days.
Meanwhile, the province also announced on Friday only one shopper per household will be permitted to enter retail stores, and only stores that offer essential items and services will be permitted to offer in-person shopping at 25% capacity. Nova Scotians are encouraged to order online for pickup or delivery whenever possible, and those who must shop in person are asked to shop for essential items only, and limit their trips to stores and the time they spend shopping. The province also said public and private schools will remain closed to students and at-home learning will continue until at least the end of May. Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang will provide an update today, May 10, at 3 p.m.
The chief executive of Atlantic Canada’s largest airport is hoping for COVID-19 testing for arriving passengers “sooner rather than later.” Joyce Carter of the Halifax International Airport Authority says rapid, on-site testing could be an added measure to combat Nova Scotia’s third wave of the pandemic. The authority first proposed the testing system for all incoming passengers at Stanfield International Airport in January. But to date the testing system at the airport has been solely for temporary foreign workers. The province says it’s been in talks with the airport, and a spokesperson notes that all rotational workers are already required to strictly quarantine for two weeks and to take tests. Tory Opposition Leader and MLA for Pictou East Tim Houston says the province should allocate some of the roughly 700,000 rapid tests it’s been allocated for use at the airport. He’s been calling for this step for over a month.
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at a Department of Community Services office, on various Halifax Transit routes, and on Air Canada and WestJet flights. All potential exposure notifications in the province are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures.
Nova Scotia’s top doctor has launched a social media meme with his comments imploring residents to cease shopping for non-essential items, including Birkenstock sandals offered at sale prices.
As the province hit record-high numbers of new COVID-19 positive cases on Friday, Dr. Robert Strang referenced a sale of the sandals at Costco, where they were being sold for just under $60. Strang said during a briefing that “it is not the time to go to Costco for sandals you heard were in stock. It’s critical you limit your trips.” Former premier Stephen McNeil, who during the province’s first wave famously coined the phrase “Stay the Blazes home,” later posted a tweet of his feet in old Birkenstocks, writing, “Listen to the Good Doctor: this is not the time.” This set off other postings from Nova Scotians, including one woman wearing multi-coloured, plastic fish sandals as her personal reminder to stay home. Despite chilly, freezing rain outdoors, Strang posted his own tweet of his feet in old Birkenstocks, responding to the premier under the hashtag thisisnotthetime. (The Canadian Press)
Man charged with impaired driving after a single motorcycle collision in New Glasgow
After getting a number of reports Thursday night about a speeding motorcycle on Westville Road in New Glasgow, New Glasgow Regional Police got a call within minutes about a motorcycle accident on Westville Road near Western Avenue. The driver was treated for non life threatening injuries and released. A 38-year-old Pictou County man was charged with Impaired, Dangerous Operation of a Vehicle, Failing to Wear a Helmet, and Operating an off-Highway Vehicle on a Highway.
U.N. committee to consider racism complaint of N.S. Mi’kmaq fishers against Ottawa
A United Nations committee on racial discrimination is asking the federal government to respond to allegations it committed racist actions in its treatment of Mi’kmaq lobster fishers in Nova Scotia. The April 30 letter of notice from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination asks Leslie Norton, Canada’s permanent representative to the U.N., to respond to allegations by Sipekne’katik First Nation by July 14. The First Nation has argued that it has the right to fish for a “moderate livelihood” when and where they wish, based on a decision from the country’s Supreme Court. The court later clarified that ruling to say Ottawa could regulate the treaty right for conservation and other purposes. Members of the Sipekne’katik band encountered violence from non-Indigenous residents last fall, resulting in the destruction of a lobster pound and the burning of a band member’s van as the First Nation conducted a fishery outside of the federally regulated season in southwestern Nova Scotia. The federal minister has repeatedly noted the principle of closed seasons exists for conservation purposes and has said her department will negotiate the distribution of commercial licences, which occur within existing seasons, tailored to the needs of each First Nation. Talks with the band broke down earlier this year, and Sipekne’katik says it is planning to resume a self-regulated lobster fishery outside of federal seasons. However, the United Nations committee says it is considering allegations the RCMP and the federal Fisheries Department “failed to take appropriate measures to prevent these acts of violence and to protect the fishers and their properties from being vandalized,” and that treaty rights weren’t respected last year. (The Canadian Press)
Canada is scheduled to receive two million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot this week as provinces begin to expand their vaccine eligibility.
The new doses headline what should be a comparatively quiet week of vaccine deliveries after Moderna delivered one million doses ahead of schedule last week. The next shipment of Moderna shots isn’t expected until next week. The federal government has not said when Canada will receive more doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson vaccines. The arrival of more Pfizer-BioNTech shots comes as British Columbia, Ontario and other provinces are set to expand the list of people eligible for vaccines this week. That has been made possible in part because of the consistent delivery of those Pfizer-BioNTech shots, with two million shots expected each week until June, when they will start sending 2.4 million per week. (The Canadian Press)
