Winter storm continues to roll through the province
The first significant snowfall of the season has arrived and has caused the closure of schools across the province. All regional centres for education have cancelled classes for the day and all NSCC campuses are closed as well. Snow started in the southwestern part of the province on Wednesday and spread eastward throughout the evening. Environment Canada says the heaviest snowfall will taper off from west to east near noon across the province. Strong northeasterly winds will likely produce blowing snow over exposed highways this morning.
Officials confirm 21 infected with COVID 19 after Nova Scotia university grad event
On Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 and 18 recoveries. There are 14 cases in Eastern Zone, 13 cases in Central Zone, six cases in Northern Zone and one case in Western Zone. Nova Scotia now has 162 active cases of COVID-19. Of those, 11 people are in hospital, including four in ICU. There is an outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, where twenty-one people have tested positive for COVID-19, and that case count includes the 12 cases announced by the university on Tuesday. Some cases connected to the outbreak came in after the cut-off for reporting and will be included in today’s case and COVID-19 data. Public health is working with the university to prevent further spread. Increased public health measures and restrictions are in place. Public health has sent its mobile COVID-19 testing unit to Antigonish. It will be at the university’s Keating Centre at 1100 Convocation Blvd. again today from ***noon***(note new time) to 3 p.m. Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer reported Tuesday that there was a COVID-19 cluster at the school related to its graduate ring ceremony last Friday. Dr. Robert Strang said official events respected public health protocols but the province is investigating off-campus events that may not have complied with the rules. A high number of exposure locations in the Antigonish area have been reported by N.S. Health, all potential exposure notifications are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures
Nova Scotia Health’s COVID-19 vaccine outreach clinics will be offering drop-in vaccination (Pfizer) for children 5 to 11 years old in Northern Zone to help support vaccine accessibility. The clinics are open to anyone age 5 to 11 for their first or second dose, and one of the locations is: Scotsburn Fire Hall, 4179 Scotsburn Road, Scotsburn on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from noon to 5 p.m.
Province to spend $57M to add staff and beds to long-term care
Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has announced 57-million dollars in funding to boost staff and the number of beds at long term care homes in the province. The funding over two years includes 22-million dollars to cover the full tuition for more than two-thousand students in continuing care assistant programs. Another 13.8-million dollars will go toward adding long-term care beds, including converting about 100 beds in residential care facilities to a higher level of care.
Drop at the pumps in N.B. overnight
There’s been a drop in fuel prices in New Brunswick. Gas went down 4.1 cents overnight. Diesel dropped three cents per litre. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
Nova Scotia Health extends timeline for Need a Family Practice Registry validation
Nova Scotia Health is extending the timeline for contacting people on the Need a Family Practice Registry to confirm that they are still looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Those on the registry should receive an email, automated phone call, or letter to confirm that their information is up to date by December 17. Those on the registry who do not receive, or miss an email, phone call, or letter by December 17 should call 811 to update their information.
Cracked Cyclones: One military helicopter repaired using reinforcement in the tail
The Canadian military has confirmed that repairs have been completed on one of its 19 Cyclone helicopters recently found with cracks in its tail. The Royal Canadian Air Force says the U.S.-based manufacturer of the aircraft, Sikorsky Aircraft, has devised a fix that involves installing reinforcements to strengthen the helicopter’s airframe. RCAF spokesperson Major Cynthia Kent says it will take about two to three days to repair each aircraft. (The Canadian Press)
4-H Canada and FCC fueling fun with $100,000 for 4-H clubs
4-H Canada’s annual FCC 4-H Club Fund will see $100,000 in funding distributed to more than 200 4-H clubs, districts, and regions across Canada. In Nova Scotia, 11 4-H clubs, districts, and regions received a combined total of $5,500. The FCC 4-H Club Fund provides up to $500 in funding per club, district, or region to support initiatives and activities such as developing existing programs, the purchase of resource materials, volunteer supports, or covering costs associated with local events. The FCC 4-H Club Fund recipients in Nova Scotia include the River John Club.
