Nova Scotia in for another winter storm on Friday
A Special Weather Statement is in effect for Pictou County as Nova Scotia is about to get blasted with another winter storm. Environment Canada says Nova Scotia can expect significant snow, rain, strong winds and storm surge. The storm will hit us Friday evening through Saturday. 20 to 40cm of snow is possible in some areas.
N.S. reports one COVID-19 related death, 60 hospitalizations on Wednesday
Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia
On Wednesday, Nova Scotia reported 12 new hospital admissions and seven discharges. The province is also reporting one death related to COVID-19. A woman in her 60s in Western Zone has died. There are 60 people in hospital who were admitted due to COVID-19 and are receiving specialized care in a COVID-19 designated unit. That includes five people in ICU. The average age of those in hospital due to COVID-19 is 66. Of the 60 people in hospital, 58 were admitted during the Omicron wave. The average length of stay of those admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 is 5.8 days. An additional 837 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Nova Scotia on Wednesday. There are an estimated 6,867 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health says the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is creating the most serious challenge of the pandemic for the province’s health system. Dr. Robert Strang said Wednesday that between 500 and 700 health-care workers have been off the job in recent days because of the virus. Strang says that’s created staff shortages across the system, from long-term care to emergency health services. As a result, he says workers are either part of reduced health teams or have been redeployed to other areas of need in the system.
Nova Scotia Health is advising that hospitals throughout the province continue to see higher than normal emergency visits and demands for hospital beds, including a growing number of COVID-19 related admissions and staffing pressures, and that’s all resulting in delays in care and ongoing service reductions. There are approximately 600 staff and physicians off work currently due to COVID-19 infections, or the need to self-isolate because of being a close contact of a positive case. As of yesterday (Wednesday), surgical services have been further reduced, with only urgent and emergent surgeries, including time sensitive cancer surgeries, continuing at this time. Also, ambulatory care clinics and procedures will focus on urgent needs only
Schools in Nova Scotia will return to in-person classes next week as planned. Premier Tim Houston said yesterday that ventilation systems for the 71 schools slated for upgrades have arrived and have been distributed. Premier Tim Houston said in his briefing yesterday that he understands the anxiety and the degree of hesitation that people are experiencing but the province’s schools are safe and the best place for children is in school – that’s the advice of public health. He says 25,000 tests will be distributed to 400 schools based on enrolment, and the tests will be available for those who need them.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Doctor Robert Strang outlined changes to the province’s testing strategy. Testing will now focus on centres for people who have symptoms or are identified as close contacts, outbreak testing, workplaces that support vulnerable people, schools, community distribution centres and areas with case surges.
Feds make last-minute reversal on vaccine mandate for truckers
Only days before Canadian truck drivers were required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to get into the country or face quarantine, the federal government is backing away from the vaccine mandate. The new rule will still take effect for American truckers starting this weekend, with drivers being turned away at the border unless they’ve been inoculated. But a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told The Canadian Press late Wednesday that unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers, or those who have had only one dose, will not have to quarantine. The head of the Canadian Trucking Alliance says about 10 per cent of the 120,000 Canadian big-riggers who traverse the border have not been fully vaccinated. (The Canadian Press)
Truro police arrest, charge 34-year-old man following fraud investigation
Police in Truro say the father of a young boy who disappeared from his grandmother’s backyard almost 19 months ago is facing multiple fraud charges. Police say 34-year-old Jason Walter Ehler of Bible Hill was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into fraudulent activity on the bank account of a deceased customer. They say an investigation that began last November found the fraud had occurred at three local financial institutions. Police say Ehler has been charged with 11 counts each of fraud, forgery and false pretenses, and further charges are anticipated.
MOPC Council wants more input on sidewalks before committing to design work
MOPC Photo
Municipality of Pictou County Council wants more input on how many people will use sidewalks in the Plymouth area before it commits to designing them. Council was set to vote on a resolution awarding the tender for the design work for sidewalks in the Plymouth (Blue Acres) area, but instead, a motion to table the resolution was put forth so a survey could be done to determine if the sidewalks will be well used. In a vote of 6 to 5, Council agreed to table the design study until the Fall of 2022 so an additional study of usage could be completed.
Gas down, diesel up in New Brunswick
The price of gas is down in New Brunswick this morning, but diesel took a big jump. Gas dropped 1.5 cents overnight and diesel increased four cents per litre. Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
