N.S. Health applying additional COVID-19 safety measures for patients from Moncton region
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in New Brunswick's Moncton region, Nova Scotia Health has decided to put additional safety measures in place at all of their facilities for patients who have recently travelled to that area.
As of August 13, any patient requiring aerosol generating medical procedures (in the O.R. or as outpatients) who have been in Moncton or the southeastern part of New Brunswick in the last 14 days for more than 12 hours is required to complete a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the procedure.
"If the procedure cannot be delayed and the test result is not available, the procedure must be performed using airborne precautions," explained Nova Scotia Health spokesperson Brendan Elliott.
If a negative COVID-19 test is not received before the procedure, droplet contact precautions will then be enforced, says John Wright, the health services director of Cumberland Regional Health Centre.
"It would look like you wearing a gown, or your health care provider wearing a full face shield, gloves, gown, mask,” said Wright.
Patients must also follow additional safety measures, including performing hand hygiene, removing their non-medical mask and putting on a medical grade mask.
Elliott says COVID-19 screening was updated in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Zone 1.
On Monday, New Brunswick reported 58 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of active infections in that province to 173. Ninety-eight of New Brunswick's active cases are in Moncton region.
"We're in a situation where things are evolving and so, we do need to consider what the impact is in all aspects of our province," said. Dr. Cristin Muecke, deputy chief medical officer of health.
Muecke says Public Health will continue to monitor the situation and is urging New Brunswickers to get vaccinated for the novel coronavirus.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.