HALIFAX -- Two new cases of COVID-19 are under investigation in Nova Scotia’s Central Zone.

The province reported the new cases on Friday. One case is a close contact of the COVID-19 case reported on Thursday. Those linked cases are under investigation, along with the second case reported Friday.

The number of active cases has dropped to 16, with the province reporting four more resolved cases on Friday.

DELAYS IN DELIVERING NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS

The province has not released the number of Nova Scotia tests conducted on Thursday or the number of negative test results, citing technical issues.

Nova Scotia Health tweeted Friday that it is experiencing delays in delivering negative COVID-19 test results by email and issues have also affected its timeline to return calls from people who left messages on the toll-free line. It says it is working to resolve the issues.

According to the Nova Scotia Health Authority's website, results are typically delivered within 48 to 72 hours of testing. However, this week, some people have been waiting even longer to find out if they have COVID-19.

Sally Cameron was able to get in for a COVID-19 test fairly quickly, but she is still waiting for her results.

"I had my test Monday evening ... so it's been over three days," Cameron told CTV News.

Jeremy Kelly is also still waiting for his one-year-old daughter's test results.

"For the daycare, she can't return until the test is back negative, and we've been waiting for almost 72 hours now," said Kelly. 

Cameron is isolating at home until she receives her result. She believes a rapid COVID-19 test may encourage more people to get tested. 

"I'm sure many are worried about getting tested because they're afraid of not being able to go back to work for a couple of days," she said. 

The province says negative test numbers will be updated when the issue is resolved and the information is available.

Nova Scotia has reported at least one new case of COVID-19 every day since Oct. 30. Several of those cases remain under investigation.

CASE BREAKDOWN

There are now 1,121 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, while 1,040 cases are considered resolved and 65 people have died, leaving 16 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 per cent of cases are female and 40 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: 932 cases
  • Northern Zone: 76 cases
  • Eastern Zone: 55 cases

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.