N.S reports two new cases on Sunday

For the second day in a row, Nova Scotia reported only two new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.

According to a news release, the two new cases were found during 1,409 tests performed Saturday in Nova Scotia Health Authority labs.

One new case is in the central zone and is under investigation. The other is in the northern zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.

The affected person is selfisolating.

As of Sunday, Nova Scotia had 41 active cases, down from 46 on Saturday. One of the cases is in the western zone and the other in the eastern zone.

Both are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada, and the people are self-isolating as required.

Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny has confirmed publicly that the case in the eastern zone is in the Eskasoni First Nation community. In Saturday's statement, public health authorities say they are working closely with Denny to manage the case, with contact tracing underway.

They said there was no sign of community spread.

"It is encouraging to see low case numbers as we start a new phase of guidelines and restrictions tomorrow," Premier Stephen Mcneil said in Sunday's release. "We can do our part to contain the virus by following these protocols that are designed to keep our social gatherings small and our communities safe."

On Friday evening, public health released a list of three new potential COVID-19 exposures, including locations in the northern and central zones and on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Halifax on Dec. 11.

Anyone present at the following locations on the specified date and time is asked to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19:

• Sobeys Elmsdale (269 Highway 214, Elmsdale) on Dec. 14 between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 between 6 and 11 a.m. Anyone exposed to the virus at this location on these days may develop symptoms up to, and including, Dec. 29.

• Apple Store, Halifax Shopping Centre (7001 Mumford Rd.) on Dec. 11 between 4 and 6:30 p.m. Anyone exposed to the virus at this location on this date may develop symptoms until Dec. 25.

The flight was Air Canada Flight 614 travelling on Dec. 11 from Toronto at 1:55 p.m., arriving in Halifax at 5:55 p.m. Passengers in rows 24 to 30, seats D, E, F, are asked to continue to self-isolate and visit covidself-assessment.novascotia.ca/en to book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

All other passengers on the flight should continue to selfisolate and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus on this flight may develop symptoms until Dec. 25.

In addition to media releases, all potential exposure notifications are now listed at www.nshealth.ca/covidexposures.

"Through the holiday season, we all need to make some sacrifices to prevent the virus from spreading," Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said in Sunday's release. "Let's show how much we care about each other and our communities by keeping our gatherings small and following all the public health measures."

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 98,238 tests. There have been 356 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. No one is currently in hospital and 315 cases are now resolved.

Besides restrictions already in place in Halifax Regional Municipality and Hants County and continuing until Jan. 10, new restrictions come into effect provincewide, starting Monday. The complete list of restrictions is available at novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictionupdates/.