4 new COVID-19 cases reported

Province extends state of emergency

Nova Scotia is reporting four COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, three of which are related to previously identified cases.

The fourth case is under investigation and is in the province's central health zone. Wednesday's new cases are located in three health zones, with two cases in the central zone, one case in the northern zone, and one case in the eastern zone.

Two of the cases are close contacts of previously reported cases in another province or territory. The people are not in Nova Scotia, but since they are Nova Scotia residents, they are included in the province's cumulative data.

None of the cases are related to the case reported in Eskasoni First Nation last weekend. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a pop-up rapid testing site was set up in Eskasoni in response to the case. There were 130 tests completed on Tuesday at this site. According to the Department of Health and Wellness, there is no indication of community exposure or spread in Eskasoni at this time.

The government won't be providing case number updates on Dec. 25 and not until Dec. 27.

"I want to remind people that across the province the gathering limit is 10, no matter how many people live in your house. And if you do need to travel this holiday season, go from point A to point B without making any unnecessary stops along the way," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health in a news release.

"Now is not the time to let our guard down. Continue to follow all the public health guidelines as you celebrate this holiday season."

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE ON TWO FLIGHTS

The Nova Scotia Health Authority updated a potential exposure notice from Monday.

Anyone who was at Andre's Pizza, (243 S Foord St., Stellarton) between Thursday, Dec. 10 and Monday, Dec. 14 is now asked to immediately book a COVID-19 test, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not.

The health authority also issued new advisories in relation to two flights from Toronto to Halifax.

Anyone who was on the following flights in the specified seats should continue to self-isolate and immediately book a COVID-19 test, whether they have symptoms or not:

• Passengers in rows 15-21 on Swoop Airlines flight 409 travelling on Dec. 18. The flight departed from Toronto at 6:00 p.m. and arrived in Halifax at 9:00 p.m. Anyone exposed to the virus on this flight on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 1, 2021.

• Passengers in rows 1-5 on Westjet flight 254.The flight departed from Toronto on Dec. 19 at 9:45 p.m. and reached Halifax on Dec. 20 at 12:00 a.m. Anyone exposed to the virus on this flight on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 3, 2021.

All other passengers on this flight should continue to self-isolate as required and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. All potential exposure notifications are listed at http://www.nshealth.ca/ covid-exposures

STATE OF EMERGENCY RENEWED

The province is renewing the state of emergency until noon Sunday, Jan. 10, unless the government terminates or extends it. The state of emergency was set to expire on Sunday, Dec. 27.

Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,519 Nova Scotia tests on Wednesday.

A rapid testing pop-up site will be set up at the Halifax Central Library on Tuesday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 1 p.m. till 8 p.m.

Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 102,913 tests. There have been 369 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. No one is currently in hospital.