As we enjoy the ability to take a walk along the beach or interact with others in our family bubbles, Dr. Robert Strang is reminding Nova Scotians that community spread of COVID-19 is still a threat.
The province reported three new cases each day of the long weekend and an additional one today, for a total of 10. All were in Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Central Zone, which includes Halifax.
The province’s chief medical officer of health said five of those 10 new cases are either residents or staff at Northwood, an additional three are close contacts of someone who had previously tested positive and one is travel related.
“One of them would appear to be the result of community spread, so that means we’ve done our case follow-up and we have not been able to identify a clear source, therefore we have to conclude that the exposure must have been somewhere in the community in Nova Scotia,” Strang said.
“While things are progressing and the picture is encouraging, we need to continue to remain vigilant,” he added. “We’re not completely out of the woods yet.”
On Friday, the province okayed family bubbles for Nova Scotians. Strang said you don’t necessarily have to be related to the household you choose to bubble up with, just as long as it’s a mutually exclusive relationship.
“It’s important to consider, age, occupation and health condition,” he reiterated.
“And even if you decide you’re going to get together as two households, if any one person in those households is unwell and has symptoms that could be COVID-19, it’s critically important that the households don’t get together until that individual has undergone a further assessment through 811, and testing if necessary.”
