HALIFAX —
Nova Scotia is reporting one new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, as well as one recovery, as the active number of cases in the province remains at 39.
The new case was identified in the Central zone and is related to travel.
“I’m happy to see that we have another day with low case numbers,” said Premier Iain Rankin in a news release. “Nova Scotians have worked so hard to get us where we are today. But please don’t become complacent. It’s important we continue to follow public health guidance to ensure we all have a great summer here in our province.”
Public Health says it is closely monitoring all four health zones for community spread.
Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, confirmed during a news conference Wednesday afternoon that there is no longer community spread in the Halifax area.
“As we open up to the rest of Canada and start expanding our social circles, it’s important to remember that COVID-19 is still among us,” said Strang in a news release. “I encourage all Nova Scotians to get both doses of your vaccine as soon as you can, get tested regularly, continue to keep a physical distance and wear a mask. Doing this will help limit the spread of the virus and allow us to move forward with our reopening plan to have a more normal summer.”
CASE DATA
Nova Scotia labs processed 2,770 tests on Thursday, and have now processed a total of 969,836 since the start of the pandemic.
Public health says there were 5,044 tests administered between July 2 and 8 at the rapid-testing pop-up sites in Halifax, Dartmouth, Sydney, Bedford and Shubenacadie.
There have been 5,865 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Of those, 5,734 people have recovered, and 92 have died due to COVID-19.
According to the province’s online dashboard, there are currently two people in hospital, with one in an intensive care unit.
Since April 1, there have been 4,123 positive COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths. Of the new cases since April 1, 4,058 are now considered resolved.
There are cases confirmed across the province, but most have been identified in the Central zone, which contains the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The provincial government says cumulative cases by zone may change as data is updated in Panorama, the province’s electronic information system.
The numbers reflect where a person lives and not where their sample was collected.
Western zone: 290 cases (no active cases)
Central zone: 4,653 cases (23 active cases)
Northern zone: 301 cases (no active cases)
Eastern zone: 621 cases (16 active cases)
The provincial state of emergency, which was first declared on March 22, 2020, has been extended to July 25, 2021
VACCINE UPDATE
The province’s COVID-19 online dashboard provides an update on the number of vaccines that have been administered to date.
As of Friday, 1,085,418 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, with approximately 73.7 per cent of the province’s overall population having received at least one dose. Of those, 369,412, or 38 per cent of Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
The province says it has received a total of 1,256,250 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since Dec. 15.
All Nova Scotians are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible. COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be made online or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.
BREAKTHROUGH DATA
Public Health reports ‘breakthrough cases’ weekly. A breakthrough case involves a person becoming COVID-19 positive two weeks after receiving either one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Public Health, there have been 4,176 cases from March 15 to July 6, 2021. Of those:
27 (0.6 per cent) were fully vaccinated
225 (5.4 per cent) were partially vaccinated
3924 (94 per cent) were unvaccinated
There were 253 people hospitalized. Of those:
Two (0.8 per cent) were fully vaccinated
27 (10.7 per cent) were partially vaccinated
224 (88.5 per cent) were unvaccinated
Twenty-six people died. Of those:
One (3.8 per cent) was fully vaccinated
Three (11.5 per cent) were partially vaccinated
22 (84.6 per cent) were unvaccinated
MORE WALK-IN TESTING OPTIONS
Nova Scotia health is introducting several new walk-in testing centres and mobile units across the province.
Testing is open to anyone and can be convenient for out-of-province visitors arriving in Nova Scotia, public health said in a release.
A list of locations offering walk-in PCR COVID-19 testing in addition to testing by appointment can be found on the health authority’s website. Rapid tests will not be offered at these locations.
Testing is available for all ages, for those who have symptoms, no symptoms (asymptomatic), have travelled or been to a potential exposure site and have been a close contact with a positive COVID case.
Public health is strongly encouraging Nova Scotians to seek asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, particularly if they have had several social interactions, even with their own social circle.
COVID-19 tests can be booked through the province’s online self-assessment COVID-19 tool, or by calling 811.
People can also visit one of Nova Scotia’s rapid pop-up testing sites that continue to operate throughout the province.
Friday, July 9:
Cape Breton Regional Library (50 Falmouth Street, Sydney) from 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Halifax Convention Centre (1650 Argyle St, Halifax) from noon to 7 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 (1772 Bedford Hwy., Bedford) from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The North Grove, outdoor tent (6 Primrose St., Dartmouth) from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
COVID ALERT APP
Canada’s COVID-19 Alert app is available in Nova Scotia.
The app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play, notifies users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
LIST OF SYMPTOMS
Anyone who experiences a fever or new or worsening cough, or two or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, is encouraged to take an online test or call 811 to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19:
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.
