HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia has ended its 11-day streak of no COVID-19 cases after identifying a new case in the provincial health authority’s northern zone.
This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the northern zone to 58.
The province says the new case is under investigation by public health and the person is not in hospital.
No other details have been released.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang said during a news conference on Friday that more information will be released when it becomes available.
'WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT'
The QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab completed 582 Nova Scotia tests on Thursday.
Before Friday, Nova Scotia had gone 11 days without reporting a new case of COVID-19.
The province’s last two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on Aug. 2 in the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s central zone. Those cases are considered resolved.
To date, Nova Scotia has 67,712 negative test results.
The latest case brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 1,072, but 1,007 cases are considered resolved, and 64 people have died, leaving one active case in the province.
"Overall, our COVID-19 case numbers remain low and infrequent and that's where we would like them to stay, but we have to remember, since July 1 we have had 10 new cases," said Strang. "We are announcing a new case today, so it's a reminder that COVID-19 is not gone ... we have to remain vigilant."
Among the 64 Nova Scotians who died from COVID-19 are 53 residents of the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax. The outbreak at Northwood is considered resolved.
There are no patients in hospital as a result of COVID-19.
The province's confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.
Sixty-one per cent of cases are female and 39 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: 54 cases
- central zone: 907 cases
- northern zone: 58 cases
- eastern zone: 53 cases
SYMPTOMS AND SELF-ISOLATION
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
Anyone who travels to Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic region is also required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province.
Residents of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are not required to self-isolate when travelling to Nova Scotia, but they must be prepared to provide proof of their place of residency at provincial borders.
Visitors from outside the Atlantic region who have already self-isolated in another Atlantic province for 14 days may travel to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate again.
Anyone who experiences one of the following symptoms is encouraged to take an online test to determine if they should call 811 for further assessment:
- fever (i.e. chills, sweats)
- cough or worsening of a previous cough
- sore throat
- headache
- shortness of breath
- muscle aches
- sneezing
- nasal congestion/runny nose
- hoarse voice
- diarrhea
- unusual fatigue
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- red, purple or blueish lesions on the feet, toes or fingers without clear cause
The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Aug. 23.
