Nova Scotia tightened its isolation requirements Monday as a cluster of new COVID-19 cases was identified in a Halifax neighbourhood, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 16.
Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said nine cases were identified in the Clayton Park area.
In light of the recent cases, Premier Stephen McNeil said travellers coming into Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic provinces would have to isolate away from family and friends, as new COVID-19 cases continue to be identified among close family contacts.
Premier Stephen McNeil said he’s concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. (Communications Nova Scotia)
Strang said if travellers don’t have the accommodations to isolate alone, everyone in the household must also isolate.
“People need to understand that if they’re taking people into their home … they are imposing a full 14-day isolation on themselves and the rest of their household members,” he said, adding that also includes children in the home.
The change does not affect rotational workers, specialized workers, people who have exceptions to attend a funeral or be with an immediate family member, and people who are exempt from self-isolation under the public health order, such as military, police, first responders, truckers and flight crews.
Cluster in Clayton Park
McNeil said he’s concerned about the rising number of cases in the Central Zone, especially in the Clayton Park area, which also includes Rockingham, Kearney Lake, Bayer’s Lake and Lakeside.
One new case in the zone was reported Monday and was identified as a close contact of a previously reported case, according to a provincial government release.
Strang said Public Health was working to identify possible contacts in the area, as several exposures were announced over the weekend, including:
The Bitter End Martini Bar and Restaurant on Argyle Street in Halifax on Nov. 2 from 9 p.m. to close.
All Nations Full Gospel Church worshipping at Saint Andrew’s United Church on Coburg Road., Halifax on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.
Montana’s BBQ and Bar on Chain Lake Drive in Halifax on Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to close.
Anyone who was at these locations has been asked to call 811 to set up a test, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Strang said Public Health was also working to make testing faster for those that may have been exposed at these locations by setting up a mobile testing unit in the Clayton Park area and giving testing priority to those who were at these three locations.
Two new possible exposures
On Monday, Public Health also warned people of two new possible COVID-19 exposures in Bedford, including:
Sobeys Mill Cove, 961 Bedford Hwy. on Nov. 6 between 8-10 p.m.
NSLC Mill Cove, 955 Bedford Hwy. on Nov. 6 between 8-9 p.m.
Anyone at these locations during these times have been asked to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Those exposed at these locations may develop symptoms up to, and including, Nov. 20.
Gahan House at 5239 Sackville St. on Nov. 4 from 7:45-11:45 p.m.
Halifax Transit Route 59 from Portland Terminal to Alderney Terminal on Nov. 4 from 1-2 p.m.
Braemar Superstore at 9 Braemar Dr. on Nov. 3 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fit4Less Bedford at 1658 Bedford Highway on Nov. 3 from 7:30-11 p.m.
Canada Games Centre on Thomas Raddall Dr. on Nov. 2 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
BMO Soccer Centre at 210 Thomas Raddall Dr. on Nov. 1 from 6-9 p.m.
Dollarama in Scotia Square Mall between Oct. 27-30 between 12-3 p.m.
WestJet Flight 254 on Oct. 30 that departed 9:45 p.m., and arrived in Halifax at 1 a.m. AT on Oct. 31. Passengers in rows 39 to 45 in seats A, B, and C should call 811 for advice.
Sobeys Clayton Park at 287 Lacewood Dr., on Nov. 3 between noon-1 p.m.
Air Canada Flight 622 on Oct. 30 that departed Toronto at 6:40 p.m. and landed in Halifax at 9:41 p.m. AT. Passengers in rows 16 to 23 in seats D, E, and F should call 811 for advice.
Chrismaria Family Restaurant on Commercial St. in New Minas between 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 24.
‘We’re not here to judge’
Strang said anyone who receives a call from Public Health is reminded to be honest about where they’ve been to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia.
“We’re not here to judge, we’re just here to help people,” he said. “Our only priority is to contain the spread of the virus and we can only do that if people are honest with us about the details of where they might have been and who they’ve been in contact with.”
Five cases that were listed as active on Sunday are no longer considered active.
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A government news release said Nova Scotia Health Authority labs completed 658 tests Sunday, although due to a technical issue, the number does not include some tests from labs outside of the Central Zone. The numbers will be updated when that information is available.
So far, Nova Scotia has had 1,129 positive cases and 65 deaths. No one is currently in hospital.
The latest numbers from around the Atlantic bubble are:
New Brunswick reported one new case Sunday. It had 24 active cases.
TORONTO – Roots Corp. may have built its brand on all things comfy and cosy, but its CEO says activewear is now “really becoming a core part” of the brand.
The category, which at Roots spans leggings, tracksuits, sports bras and bike shorts, has seen such sustained double-digit growth that Meghan Roach plans to make it a key part of the business’ future.
“It’s an area … you will see us continue to expand upon,” she told analysts on a Friday call.
The Toronto-based retailer’s push into activewear has taken shape over many years and included several turns as the official designer and supplier of Team Canada’s Olympic uniform.
But consumers have had plenty of choice when it comes to workout gear and other apparel suited to their sporting needs. On top of the slew of athletic brands like Nike and Adidas, shoppers have also gravitated toward Lululemon Athletica Inc., Alo and Vuori, ramping up competition in the activewear category.
Roach feels Roots’ toehold in the category stems from the fit, feel and following its merchandise has cultivated.
“Our product really resonates with (shoppers) because you can wear it through multiple different use cases and occasions,” she said.
“We’ve been seeing customers come back again and again for some of these core products in our activewear collection.”
Her remarks came the same day as Roots revealed it lost $5.2 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss of $5.3 million in the same quarter last year.
The company said the second-quarter loss amounted to 13 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Aug. 3, the same as a year earlier.
In presenting the results, Roach reminded analysts that the first half of the year is usually “seasonally small,” representing just 30 per cent of the company’s annual sales.
Sales for the second quarter totalled $47.7 million, down from $49.4 million in the same quarter last year.
The move lower came as direct-to-consumer sales amounted to $36.4 million, down from $37.1 million a year earlier, as comparable sales edged down 0.2 per cent.
The numbers reflect the fact that Roots continued to grapple with inventory challenges in the company’s Cooper fleece line that first cropped up in its previous quarter.
Roots recently began to use artificial intelligence to assist with daily inventory replenishments and said more tools helping with allocation will go live in the next quarter.
Beyond that time period, the company intends to keep exploring AI and renovate more of its stores.
It will also re-evaluate its design ranks.
Roots announced Friday that chief product officer Karuna Scheinfeld has stepped down.
Rather than fill the role, the company plans to hire senior level design talent with international experience in the outdoor and activewear sectors who will take on tasks previously done by the chief product officer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, are set to resume today as a strike that has stopped most services drags into a second week.
No timeline has been set for the length of the negotiations, but Joe McCann, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they are willing to stay there as long as it takes, even if talks drag on all night.
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people unable to navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last Tuesday, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
Hundreds of drivers rallied outside TransLink’s head office earlier this week, calling for the transportation provider to intervene in the dispute with Transdev, which was contracted to oversee HandyDART service.
Transdev said earlier this week that it will provide a reply to the union’s latest proposal on Thursday.
A statement from the company said it “strongly believes” that their employees deserve fair wages, and that a fair contract “must balance the needs of their employees, clients and taxpayers.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – Travel company Transat AT Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year earlier as its revenue edged lower.
The parent company of Air Transat says it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31.
The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.
Transat chief executive Annick Guérard says demand for leisure travel remains healthy, as evidenced by higher traffic, but consumers are increasingly price conscious given the current economic uncertainty.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
