HALIFAX -- Nova Scotians who travelled outside Canada are being asked to avoid long-term care homes and self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.

The province said Monday that it is restricting visitors who have travelled outside the country in the last 14 days from entering long-term care homes.

"Even though they themselves may be well in the 14-day period, we're saying minimize your contact with people who are older, and especially those who are older and have chronic conditions," said Dr. Rob Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, during a news conference on Monday.

"In that 14-day period, even though you're healthy, do not come and visit in a long-tem cafe facility. We need to do everything we can do to prevent the introduction of this virus into a long-term care facililty setting."

The directive comes as Canada reports its first COVID-19 death in British Columbia. One of the residents of a care home in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley, whose case was announced Saturday, died on Sunday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced during a news conference.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 72 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.

In Nova Scotia, anyone who travelled outside Canada is being asked to monitor their health for 14 days after returning home. The province says travellers who feel unwell should stay home and limit contact with the public.

"We are expanding our screening to include travel outside of the country as the virus continues to spread," said Strang.

"With more cases expected in Canada and spread into the community likely, we are adapting our processes to respond to this rapidly evolving situation."

Strang says anyone who suspects they may have COVID-19 should call 811.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Maritimes, but all three provincial governments say they are monitoring the situation, and are asking residents who travelled outside Canada to closely monitor their health for 14 days.

According to the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness and dry cough.

WHO says some patients may also experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat, or diarrhea, while some people don’t develop any symptoms and feel fine.

WHO says most people with COVID-19 -- roughly 80 per cent -- recover from the disease without needing special treatment. About 1 in 6 people with the disease will become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing.

The Nova Scotia government says residents should follow these steps in order prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • practise good handwashing hygiene
  • use cough and sneeze etiquette
  • avoid touching your face
  • minimize close face-to-face contact with people who appear ill
  • stay away from others if you feel unwell
  • regularly clean and disinfect high touch surfaces

Testing centre locations in Nova Scotia will be announced Tuesday in Nova Scotia. They will not be located inside emergency facilities.

Meanwhile, all medical officers of health are urging people not to inundate the 811 health line if they are simply looking for information, as wait times are growing longer for those who actually may be symptomatic.

Instead, anyone seeking information about COVID-19 can call the national information line at 1-833-784-4397.