News release

Twenty-Six New Cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia

COVID-19
Health and Wellness

As of today, April 1, Nova Scotia has 173 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Twenty-six new cases were identified Tuesday, March 31, and more than 1,000 COVID-19 tests were completed at the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s microbiology lab.

While most cases in Nova Scotia are connected to travel or a known case, as reported previously, there is one confirmed case of community transmission and more cases are expected to present.

Of the 26 new cases of COVID-19, one is a staff member at The Magnolia residential care home in Enfield. That makes three staff members and two residents of The Magnolia who have tested positive. The residents are in isolation and staff members are isolating at home. All residents are being monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 including temperature checks twice daily. To date, two other nursing homes in Nova Scotia each have one staff member who has tested positive. They are isolating at home and appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place at facilities across the province.

To date, Nova Scotia has 6,591 negative test results and 173 confirmed cases. Those cases range in age from under ten to over 80. Five individuals are currently in hospital. Eleven individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province.

Public health is working to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases. Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, any Nova Scotian who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better. If they are concerned about COVID-19 they can go to https://811.novascotia.ca/ and use the online assessment tool. Anyone referred to an assessment site by 811 will be tested.

It is now more important than ever for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health orders and directives – practise good hygiene, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from others, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and stay at home as much as possible.

Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .

Today's update will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast , @nsgov Facebook and YouTube channels.

Quick Facts:

  • testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
  • Nova Scotia's Health Protection Act gives the chief medical officer of health the authority to give advice to protect public health and decrease risk to public health presented by communicable diseases such as COVID-19
  • a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and remains in effect until noon, April 5

Additional Resources:

Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397

The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them, by calling 1-888-429-8167 (toll free).

Kids Help Phone is available 24/7, by calling 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free).