HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, with 19 active cases remaining in the province.

Since Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 update on Monday, there have been seven new cases in the province.

In a news release on Friday, the province says one of the new cases is in the Northern Zone and is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. That person is self-isolating.

The second case is in the Central Zone and is currently under investigation.

Neither case is linked to the cluster of cases in Clayton Park.

PROVINCE WARNS OF POTENTIAL EXPOSURES

Nova Scotia public health is warning  the public about four possible COVID-19 exposures in Halifax. Those locations include:

  • The Economy Shoe Shop Bar and Restaurant on Nov. 8, between 8:30 and 11 p.m.
  • John W. Lindsay YMCA on Sackville Street on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., but only in the gym section of that facility.
  • The Local Restaurant and Bar at 2037 Gottingen St. on Nov. 9 between 4 p.m. and close.
  • Tim Hortons on Verdi Drive, (Bedford Commons) on Nov. 12 from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.

It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at these locations on the named dates may develop symptoms up to, and including, 14 days after the day of exposure.

Anyone present at any of these locations on the reported dates and times is asked to self-monitor for symptoms.

CLAYTON PARK CLUSTER

Nova Scotia Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang said in a press conference on Friday that he is feeling less anxious about the Clayton Park cluster.

“I am feeling less anxious about the cluster in Clayton Park that we announced on Monday. We’ve had no new cases associated with the cluster since Tuesday,” said Strang.

The provinces top doctor also said a mobile testing site that was supposed to be set up in the Clayton Park area for the cluster is no longer required.

“On Monday we told you the Nova Scotia Health Authority was putting plans in place to help people in that part of Halifax to access testing more quickly and easily,” explained Strang.

“And we put plans in place to stand up a temporary assessment centre at a vacant retail space in the Bayers Lake Business Park but as we’ve gone through the week, we’ve came to the conclusion this morning, that this temporary site is not actually needed.”

“However, if that changes then we can now respond quickly because we have access to this site.”

OFFICIALS URGE TO AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

Nova Scotia health authorities are asking the public to avoid non-essential travel as new positive cases, normally associated with travel, continue to increase.

“We’ve had a lot of questions about what essential travel is,” said Strang.

“We can’t define that for you, but you need to ask yourself some questions about why you’re travelling, how important it is or why you’re bringing somebody into the Atlantic Bubble.”

Strang reminded any Nova Scotians planning to travel outside the Atlantic Bubble are required to self-isolate alone for 14-days.

“So as people travel, when they arrive back in Nova Scotia, they will have to self-isolate in a space that is self-contained,” explained Strang.

“I recognize this is hard for folks, and we know the impact of what we're doing. But the reality is that, that we have to continue to make sure that we're taking appropriate steps to minimize the introduction of COVID into the province and minimize the chance of it having broad spread.”

ONLINE BOOKING FOR COVID TESTS

Nova Scotia’s online booking for COVID-19 testsis now available for everyone across the province.   

Nova Scotians must first complete the online self-assessmentto determine if they need a COVID-19 test. If they do require a test, they will be directed to the online booking site to make an appointment.

Tests should be scheduled within 48 hours of completing the self-assessment.

CASE DATA

The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 1,260 Nova Scotia tests on Thursday.

To date, Nova Scotia has had 120,791 negative test results and 1,136 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,052 cases are now considered resolved and 65 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus.

There is no one in hospital due to 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: 946 cases 
  • Northern Zone: 77 cases
  • Eastern Zone: 55 cases

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

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.

STATE OF EMERGENCY RENEWED

The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, has been extended to Nov. 29, unless the government terminates or extends it before then.

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 for non-essential reasons is required to self-isolate for 14 days and must fill out a self-declaration form before coming to the province. Travellers must self-isolate alone, away from others. If they cannot self-isolate alone, their entire household must also self-isolate for 14 days.

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.