Non-essential travel restricted to Nova Scotia as province deals with COVID-19 spike

HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia closed its provincial boundary to non-essential travel from all parts of Canada except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador Thursday as it deals with a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education also confirmed that a total of seven schools are now closed because of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus.

The newest closure is at Bell Park Academic Centre in Lake Echo after a single case was identified late Wednesday.

Health officials say the school will remain closed to students until Tuesday for cleaning.

The outbreak also saw the province cancel next month's women's world hockey championship set for Halifax and Truro for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, citing public safety concerns.

After 25 new COVID-19 cases and 79 active infections were reported Wednesday, Premier Iain Rankin and health officials are scheduled to hold a briefing this afternoon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021

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  Six of Tuesday's new cases were reported in the province's Central zone. Five are close contacts of previously reported cases and the other case is under investigation. (Photo courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)