Province reports 93rd COVID-19 related death; no new cases Thursday
A woman in her 50s in Nova Scotia’s Central zone has become the province’s 93rd COVID-19 related death. Nova Scotia reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, as 11 active cases remain in the province. There are currently no Nova Scotians in hospital due to COVID-19.
The Public Health Mobile Unit will be offering drop-in COVID-19 testing at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (2-2756 Westville Road, New Glasgow) this weekend: Saturday, July 24 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Testing is free and available to all ages.
A drop in N.S. Fuel prices
Fuel prices are down this morning in the province. Regular self-serve gas dropped four cents per litre to $1.352 in the local area. Diesel is down 3.1 cents to $1.233 per litre.
Provincial Election Roundup
On the Election campaign trail, Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said Thursday that as part of Nova Scotia’s new affordable child care agreement, before and after school programs are being expanded across the province with the addition of 7,500 new spaces by 2026. He says the enhanced “wrap-around” program, for three to five-year-olds, will also be offered through the summer and during professional development days. Rankin says child care fees will be reduced by 50 per cent for those already using the child care system by next year, and by 2026, the average cost of child care will be $10 a day.
Nova Scotia’s N-D-P says it will create same-day and next-day mental health clinics in communities throughout Nova Scotia if elected. The party says many people with serious needs for counselling are waiting too long to get care. It said in a news release yesterday current spending on mental health doesn’t match the percentage of people in the health system in need of mental health care. Party Leader Gary Burrill intends to campaign in Halifax today with announcements on child-care programs.
The Progressive Conservatives have released an election platform calling for five years of deficits to pay for improvements to health care. It projects 553-million dollars in spending in the first year to be offset by new taxes on property deed transfers and absentee property owners that will bring in 149-million dollars a year. It also calls for 430-million dollars in new health care spending to extend operating room hours, add 25-hundred more long-term care beds and create a pension plan for doctors.
Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives say they want more answers from Liberal Leader Iain Rankin about how his party’s officials treated a woman who was briefly a candidate in the Halifax area. Robyn Ingraham says the Liberals asked her to lie about why she dropped out and to attribute her exit to mental health concerns. She said in a social media post Wednesday the real reason she was dropped in the riding of Dartmouth South was that party officials got nervous about revealing photos she had posted online, even though she says she disclosed the photos during the vetting process. In a news release, the Tories say Rankin must “come clean” on the allegations, apologize to Ingraham and disclose which senior members of the party dealt with her. Rankin said Thursday that he wants to speak directly with Ingraham before addressing the issue further. NDP Leader Gary Burrill responded to Ingraham’s allegations by calling on parties to take a stand against misogynistic attacks on women candidates. (The Canadian Press)
Summer Olympics officially kick off today, New Glasgow native on Canadian Olympic dressage team
Photo: Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and her horse All In
Tokyo’s pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics officially get underway today with a largely spectator-free opening ceremony. The stands at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium will be empty save for a handful of officials, guests and members of the media as the festivities begin at 8 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ADT). Even the number of athletes participating is likely to be smaller than most years, due to strict COVID-19 protocols at the Olympic Village. The Canadian Olympic Committee said Thursday that only a small contingent of 30 to 40 athletes — roughly a tenth of the total delegation — will take part. Meanwhile, an equestrian competitor originally from New Glasgow is competing at the Summer Olympic Games. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, who now lives and works in Montreal, and her horse All In, are on the Canadian Olympic dressage team. She was the top-ranked Canadian team rider last year. Brittany and her father, Craig Fraser, own All In and she has been riding him since he was five. Click HERE for a schedule of the equestrian events. (With files from the Canadian Press)
Applications open for Population Health Funding
The Aberdeen Health Foundation is now accepting applications for Population Health Funding. Applications must be received by the Aberdeen Health Foundation on or before October 22, 2021.
The Foundation says the goal of this funding is to support programs that improve the health of the whole community, while addressing the barriers that some populations experience to achieving their full health potential. A total of $40,000 is available. There is no maximum allowable funding request, but it is anticipated that this amount will be shared among several programs. For further information contact: Deelle Hines at (902) 752-7600 x. 4600. Applications can be submitted to Deelle via email at deelle.hines@nshealth.ca. If you have an idea for a program but are unsure of its eligibility, you’re encouraged to contact the Foundation at any time. Visit http://bit.ly/PopulationHealthFunding for applications and additional information.
