'This is great': Nova Scotians enjoy the first day of summer as the province announces no new COVID-19 cases
Many Haligonians spent the first official day of summer soaking up the sun.
Public Health officials in the province reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, for the first time since the end of March.
"I'm happy that the numbers are down and we're able to start opening up. I found this last lockdown harder than all the other ones, so this is great,” said Debbie Scott.
The province is currently in the second of a five phase COVID-19 reopening plan.
"I can come out more and I'm not as scared of the virus anymore,” said Marissa Ma. “I got a vaccine so, I just feel maybe our life going to go back to normal."
Nova Scotia is opening up to the rest of Atlantic Canada on Wednesday. That means people coming from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador will not need to isolate when they visit the province.
"It would be nice to have the rest of Canada open. We have family back in Ontario and we haven't seen them in a year and a half,” said Lesly Reynolds.
As of Monday, 775,902 doses of vaccine have been administered in Nova Scotia. Nearly 85,000 of them, second doses.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces will once again be helping to administer vaccine, as they did in the spring.
"We lead the country in our first dose uptake now we're really focused on our second doses and we're really trying to get as many doses into arms as soon as we can. So, we put the request in to see if there's resources available and extremely happy that they're helping with the efforts,” said Premier Iain Rankin.
With 76 active cases, Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 case count continues to trend downward but the number of people getting tested for the virus is also down.
"We know Delta virus is in all of our provinces and it is more easy to transmit and we can't just rely on first doses of vaccine. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, the best way for us to stay open is to combine vaccines and regular testing,” said Infectious Disease Specialist and Scientist Dr. Lisa Barrett.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.