Five new presumptive cases of the COVID-19 respiratory virus have been identified in Nova Scotia, the government announced Wednesday.
As of today, Nova Scotia has three confirmed cases and nine presumptive cases of COVID-19.
Four of the cases are travel-related and one is connected to an earlier case. The 12 individuals affected range in age from early 30s to mid-70s. They are all in self-isolation and recovering at home.
"Public health has been in contact with these individuals and working to identify others who may have come in close contact with them," the province said in a news release. "Those individuals are also being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days. They are located across the province. Northern Nova Scotia is the only region without a positive case of COVID-19 at this time."
Daily tests have turned up 1,141 negative results and the 12 positive results, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer, said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon with Premier Stephen McNeil and Health Minister Randy Delorey.
Salons, gyms closed
In the latest social-distancing measure, McNeil said personal services and fitness establishments such as hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons, body-art establishments and gyms must close as of midnight Thursday.
That's in addition to the closure of drinking establishments and in-dining service at restaurants announced Tuesday.
"We are actively looking at our regulated health professions such as dentists and physiotherapists and others, and we'll have more information on that in the days to come," McNeil said.
Pharmacists and prescriptions
Delorey announced that a fee agreement will be expanded in regard to the ability of Nova Scotia's roughly 1,300 pharmacists to renew common prescriptions. That will come into effect Thursday, ahead of the original April 1 start date for that service. (Pharmacists will be limiting prescriptions to a 30-day supply with rare exceptions).
As well, an agreement has been struck with Doctors Nova Scotia to enable physicians to provide care via telephone and videoconferencing where appropriate as deemed by the physician.
Social distancing helps prevent the spread of #COVID19NS, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay inside.
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) March 19, 2020
Visit https://t.co/MsTOQ7V2y5 for more information. pic.twitter.com/CD91mYIoNq
"Physicians who already have access to this technology may begin using it immediately," Delorey said. "We are working to establish a provincial system for others who are interested in expanding the use of this type of technology."
The minister said the province is working to expand the available workforce of frontline care providers, including working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the College of Nursing to waive fees for retired doctors to make it faster for them to support the health-care system.
For example, 26 registered nurses have completed training for the 811 telehealth service and 70 more are being trained. As well, 11 triage assessors will be added, with 17 more in the queue, the minister said.
Delorey also announced that employers will no longer be able to demand sick notes from employees.
In other program changes related to the outbreak, McNeil said effective immediately, all service providers through the Community Services Department's disability support program - including social enterprise, day programs, supportive employment programs for adults with diverse abilities - will close to both participants and the public.
"We will support those families with respite care through our group homes," the premier said.
Self-isolation clarified
Both Strang and McNeil reacted to stories of people targeting their neighbours online for what they considered breaches of the 14-day self-isolation rule for people who recently returned from international travel.
"You can still go for a bike ride, take your kids to the park, you don't have to stay 24 hours a day in your home," Strang said, but rather simply keep away from close personal contact with other people.
But in-house isolation protocol does apply people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, he said.
