HALIFAX -- Another resident at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax has died from COVID-19.

Fifty-six people have now died from COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, with 50 of those deaths among Northwood residents.

“It is a difficult time at Northwood, but we are making progress and we won’t stop until the virus has been defeated,” said Premier Stephen McNeil during a news conference on Tuesday.

Northwood -- the largest long-term care facility east of Montreal -- has seen the most significant outbreak of the virus in the province.

As of Monday, the facility was reporting a total of 340 confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving 243 residents and 97 staff members, though most residents and employees have now recovered from the virus.

1 new case of COVID-19

Nova Scotia also reported just one new case of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 1,044.

Nova Scotia has seen a steady decline of new cases and a significant increase in recoveries since the beginning of the month, with the province reporting new cases in the single digits for two weeks.

A total of 10 cases have been reported since Saturday.

“The low case numbers over the long weekend really is good news and it continues to be encouraging of how we see the epidemiology evolving,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang. “It means that everything we’ve been doing … is working to slow the spread of the virus.”

Strang said five of the 10 cases confirmed since Saturday are linked to Northwood, while another three cases are contacts of a confirmed case.

One case was travel-related and health officials haven’t been able to identify the source of the 10th case.

“Therefore we have to conclude that the exposure must have been somewhere here in the community in Nova Scotia,” explained Strang.

“I highlight this because it remains that while things are progressing and the picture is encouraging, that we need to continue to remain vigilant. We’re not completely out of the woods yet.”

956 people recovered

The QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab completed 384 tests on Monday.

To date, Nova Scotia has 36,438 negative test results.

Ten more people have recovered from the virus. Of the 1,044 confirmed cases, 956 people have now recovered and their cases are considered resolved.

This leaves only 32 active cases in the province and 27 of those cases are linked to long-term care homes.

Northwood currently has 26 active cases of COVID-19, involving 19 residents and seven staff members.

One other facility has one resident with an active case of the virus.

This leaves only five active cases of COVID-19 outside of long-term care homes.

One more patient admitted to hospital

Nine people are now in hospital as one more person has been admitted. Five of those patients are in intensive care units.

The confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90.

Sixty-two per cent of cases are female and 38 per cent are male.

The latest case was identified in the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s central zone, which has seen the largest number of cases in the province. Strang confirmed the case is linked to Northwood.

The western, northern and eastern zones are reporting no new cases at this time.

  • western zone: 54 cases
  • central zone: 895
  • northern zone: 44 cases
  • eastern zone: 51 cases

Public health is working to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases.

Nova Scotia could reopen economy by June

Nova Scotia has yet to release a formal plan for the further easing of restrictions and reopening of its economy, but McNeil said Tuesday that Strang is expected to complete consultations with businesses and various sectors by the end of the week.

“This is an important first step toward reopening our economy,” said McNeil. “We can’t have businesses opening without understanding how to follow the public health protocols that will be in place.”

McNeil said the province is trying to balance the safety of Nova Scotians with restarting the economy and wants to ensure businesses can reopen safely.

“If we get this right, we could be ready by early June,” said the premier.

As for the further easing of restrictions, McNeil said the province needs to continue to see low case numbers.

“A lot depends on what Dr. Strang sees in terms of flattening the curve in the weeks ahead,” he said.

Symptoms and self-isolation

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.

Anyone who travels outside Nova Scotia must also self-isolate for two weeks.

Nova Scotians who experience two or more of the following symptoms should take an online questionnaire to determine if they should call 811 for further assessment:

  • Fever
  • New or worsening cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Headache