HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia has announced 3 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Eight previously reported cases are now considered recovered, dropping the total number of active cases in the province to 25.

All three of Wednesday's new cases were identified in Nova Scotia's Central zone, and are close contacts of previously reported cases.

One of the cases is at Prince Andrew High School and one is at Eric Graves Memorial Junior High School, both in Dartmouth.

Public health says contact tracing for all three cases is underway, and everyone who is a close contact will be notified, tested and asked to self-isolate.

Both schools are currently closed for the holiday break and will be cleaned again before staff return on Jan. 4.

"It is encouraging to see case numbers staying low, and I am proud of the effort Nova Scotians are making to follow public health protocols and keep each other safe," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "We need to continue to be vigilant over the next number of months. I know we can contain the virus as long as we stay committed to one another and follow the protocols.

"The rest of the holiday season is critical for us and we need Nova Scotians to continue their vigilance with New Year's celebrations," said Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health. "Keep your gatherings small with no more than 10 people total. Stick with your family or your regular close social group of 10 as you say goodbye to 2020 and welcome in the new year."

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE NOTIFICATIONS

On Wednesday evening, Nova Scotia health issued several potential COVID-19 exposure notifications for retail businesses across the HRM.

Anyone present at the following locations on the specified date and time is asked to go online or call 811 to book a COVID-19 test regardless of whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.

  • Pete’s Frootique Sunnyside Mall (1595 Bedford Hwy, Bedford)
  • Dec. 23 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
  • May develop symptoms up to, and including Jan. 6.
  • Walmart Bedford Commons - photo kiosk area (141 Damascus Rd, Bedford)
  • Dec. 23 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
  • May develop symptoms up to, and including Jan. 6.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, those present at the following locations on the named dates and times are required to self-isolate while waiting for their test result. If you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19, you do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your test result.

  • Walmart Bedford Commons – rest of store (141 Damascus Rd, Bedford)
  • Dec. 23 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
  • May develop symptoms up to, and including Jan. 6.
  • Michael’s Bedford Commons (161 Damascus Rd, Bedford)
  • Dec. 23 between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
  • May develop symptoms up to, and including Jan. 6.
  • Sobey’s Tacoma Drive (60 Tacoma Dr, Dartmouth)
  • Dec. 23 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
  • May develop symptoms up to, and including Jan. 6.

Click here for a full list of potential exposures.

CASE BREAKDOWN

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has done 111,344 tests. There have been 394 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no deaths.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 1,483 cumulative confirmed cases, and 65 deaths. 1,393 cases are considered recovered, leaving 25 active cases in the province.

"I talk to my colleagues in Ontario and Quebec and obviously we're doing far better than they are," said infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett. "I hope that as we go into the next week or so, we don't see more cases as a result of our holiday season."

There is currently one patient in hospital due to COVID-19, with no patients in intensive care.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,592 tests on Tuesday.

A rapid pop-up testing site was held at the Halifax Central Library.

"I haven't been at any exposure sites or anything but just to be safe, I've been seeing my boyfriend's grandfather a couple times," said Victoria Taylor. "I just wanted to make sure that I was in the clear to do that."

Even though the test is not for the squeamish, many are heading in.

"I can't say it's very comfortable actually," said Heather Stevens-Goodyear. "It's a pretty unnatural feeling. It was really, really quick. They were super brillant in there."

Barrett is thankful so many Nova Scotians are taking the time to get tested.

"I think Nova Scotians and folks in the Atlantic Bubble really do deserve a big thank you not just for following the guidelines, but for getting tested a lot," Barrett said. "It's a key and core part of what other provinces are now trying to do to control their outbreaks."

The province's confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Fifty-six per cent of cases are female, and 44 per cent are male.

There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central Zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province's electronic information system.

The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.

  • Western Zone: 84 cases
  • Central Zone: 1224 cases
  • Northern Zone: 108 cases
  • Eastern Zone: 67 cases

MORE VACCINES ON THE WAY

Nova Scotia received its first shipment of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 15.

A second shipment, containing 3,900 doses, was received on Dec. 22.

Vaccination clinics paused from Dec. 24-28 and resumed Tuesday.

To date, 2,600 Nova Scotians have been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the first shipment of the Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive in the province this week and will contain 3,700 doses.

"Our weekly shipments of vaccine are confirmed through January," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health. "We now have the freezers and equipment needed for any type of vaccine at five locations across the province. So, early in January we'll be able to start vaccinating at these other locations."

More details about Nova Scotia's immunization plan are expected next week.

COVID ALERT APP

Canada's COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.

The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

LIST OF SYMPTOMS

Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:

  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion