Ninety-six new cases of COVID-19 are being reported in Nova Scotia today, April 27.

Ninety cases are in Central Zone, two cases are in Western Zone, and one case is in Northern Zone.

Three cases are in Eastern Zone, one of which was identified Monday, April 26, at Sydney Academy in Sydney.

One of the cases in Central Zone is a staff member at Clarmar Residential Care Facility, a residential care home in Dartmouth. All residents have been fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Due to an increased number of investigations in recent days, the exposure category (i.e., travel, close contact or under investigation) is not always available by release time. A breakdown by zone identifying exposure categories will no longer be provided regularly. There is community spread in Central Zone. The Eastern, Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread.

As of today, Nova Scotia has 419 active cases of COVID-19. Eleven people are in hospital, including three who are in ICU.

Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 9,962 Nova Scotia tests on April 26. 

As of April 26, 283,591 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 35,002 Nova Scotians have received their second dose. 

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 401,042 tests. There have been 1,126 positive COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. There are 705 resolved cases. Cumulative cases may change as data is updated in Panorama.

Nova Scotians are strongly encouraged to seek asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, particularly if they have a large number of close contacts due to their work or social activities. Appointments can be booked at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/, by choosing the asymptomatic option. Rapid testing pop-up sites continue to be set up around the province as well. More information on testing can be found at https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting . 

Visit https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had or you are currently experiencing:

— fever (i.e. chills/sweats) or cough (new or worsening) 

Or:

Two or more of the following symptoms (new or worsening):
— sore throat
— runny nose/nasal congestion
— headache
— shortness of breath/difficulty breathing 

Call 811 if you cannot access the online self-assessment or wish to speak with a nurse about your symptoms.

When a new case of COVID-19 is confirmed, the person is directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days. Public health works to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with that person.

Anyone who has travelled from anywhere except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, anyone who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better.

It remains important for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health order and directives – practise good hand washing and other hygiene steps, maintain a physical distance when and where required. Wearing a non-medical mask is mandatory in most indoor public places.

Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus .

Source: Release #notw