Nova Scotia Reports One More Death, One New Case of COVID-19

Today, May 19, Nova Scotia is reporting one additional death related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 56. The death occurred at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality.

As of today, Nova Scotia has 1,044 confirmed cases of COVID-19. One new case was identified Monday, May 18.

The QEII Health Sciences Centre’s microbiology lab completed 384 Nova Scotia tests on May 18 and is operating 24-hours.

There are two licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors' facilities in Nova Scotia with active cases of COVID-19. Northwood in Halifax currently has 19 residents and seven staff with active cases. One other facility has one resident with an active case.

If you have two or more of the following symptoms, visit https://811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:

• fever
• new or worsening cough
• sore throat
• runny nose
• headache

To date, Nova Scotia has 36,438 negative test results, 1,044 positive COVID-19 test results and 56 deaths. Confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. Nine individuals are currently in hospital, five of those in ICU. Nine-hundred and fifty-six individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. A map and graphic presentation of the case data is available at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data .

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.

It remains important for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health order and directives – practise good hand washing and other hygiene steps, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from those not in your household or immediate family bubble and limit planned social gatherings of people outside your household or immediate family bubble to no more than five.

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

Quick Facts:

• testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
• a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and extended to May 31

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)

For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)