HALIFAX -- As Nova Scotia reports four new cases of COVID-19, the province is also advising of potential exposures at a restaurant and on a flight.

Health officials say anyone who visited the Chrismaria Family Restaurant on Commercial Street in New Minas, N.S., between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor for symptoms. They could develop symptoms up to and including Nov. 7.

Nova Scotia Health is also advising of a potential exposure on Air Canada flight AC0622, which flew from Toronto to Halifax on Oct. 30. The flight departed Toronto at 6:40 p.m. and arrived in Halifax at 9:41 p.m.

Passengers in rows 16 to 23, seats D, E and F, are asked to call 811 for advice while all other passengers on the flight are urged to monitor for symptoms.

Anyone who was exposed to COVID-19 on the flight could develop symptoms up to and including Nov. 13.

FOUR NEW CASES

Nova Scotia reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the number of active cases in the province to 19.

Two of the new cases are in the Central Zone and travelled outside of Atlantic Canada together. The individuals are self-isolating, as required.

The other two cases are in the Northern Zone and are household contacts of a previously reported case. 

CASE BREAKDOWN

The Nova Scotia Health Authority labs completed 853 Nova Scotia tests on Tuesday.

To date, Nova Scotia has 114,037 negative tests. 

There are 1,118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, while 1,034 cases are considered resolved and 65 people have died, leaving 19 active cases in the province.

There is no one 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: 58 cases
  • Central Zone: 929 cases
  • Northern Zone: 76 cases
  • Eastern Zone: 55 cases

CASES REMAIN UNDER INVESTIGATION

Four of the province’s active cases remain under investigation -- including a case announced Tuesday -- which means health officials aren’t certain how they became infected.

“Several cases are still under investigation, in particular two groups of individuals where travel is a factor, but there are also a number of potential contacts within those two groups,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang during an update on Tuesday. “Public Health is working now to confirm the source of the initial infection.”

While officials work to determine the source of the latest cases of COVID-19, Strang says some people are in isolation, but wouldn’t say how many.

While some cases are still under investigation, Strang says there is no indication there is general community spread in Nova Scotia -- something that is being felt in other provinces.

“Until a few weeks ago, Manitoba was on the same track as Nova Scotia. They were reporting low or no cases consistently for months, but things can change in the blink of an eye,” he said. “Yesterday, Manitoba reported 241 new cases and five more deaths and they are now seeing wide community spread.”

STATE OF EMERGENCY RENEWED UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Nov. 15, unless the government terminates or extends it before then.

COVID ALERT APP

Earlier in October, Nova Scotia Health announced that Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is now available in the province.

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

SELF-ISOLATION AND MANDATORY MASKS

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 required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province.

However, the province has eased some self-isolation requirements for out-of-province rotational workers.

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.

On Oct. 22, New Brunswick announced further restrictions related to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Campbellton-Restigouche region of northern New Brunswick. Nova Scotians are being advised to avoid unnecessary travel to that area.

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.

It is mandatory to wear a non-medical mask in most indoor public places in Nova Scotia.