Second CBU student tests positive for COVID-19

Student had no symptoms but was identified as positive after asymptomatic testing

SYDNEY, N.S. – A second Cape Breton University student has tested positive for COVID-19.

The new case was announced by the post-secondary institution on Friday and officially reported by Nova Scotia health officials on Saturday, three days after CBU reported its first coronavirus case.

CBU students’ union president Amrinder Singh said he believes the student body and the local community should be pleased that public health protocols are proving effective at stopping the spread of the virus.

“Everything is absolutely under control – all the steps have been taken by public health authorities and by CBU,” said Singh.

“We’re happy that students are participating in the asymptomatic testing which we have been strong advocates for. And I think all students and all of the community should be happy that students are doing this. We’re all doing what we can do to keep Cape Breton one of the safest places in Canada.”

The case was one of four reported in the province on Saturday. The other three were all in the central zone.

In an online message to the campus community Friday afternoon, CBU president David Dingwall said the student, who lives on campus, arrived earlier in the week and has since been self-isolating in adherence with Nova Scotia’s mandatory public health requirements.

“As with the first case, it was during this isolation time the student chose to participate in asymptomatic testing, which did produce the positive result,” said Dingwall on the university’s website.

“Again, the student continues to isolate with the proper health, mental health and academic resources in place as an efficient support system.”

The other CBU student who tested positive lives off campus and is also selfisolating.

Dingwall said contact tracing is managed by public health officials and those considered to be close contacts have been notified.

In early March, Dingwall established a pandemic planning taskforce to focus on response and contingency planning in response to the pandemic.

The CBU campus is currently closed to the general public, while the university’s winter semester is online only. In-person classes are scheduled to resume in May but are subject to any changes to the current Public Health guidelines or status of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the province also reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. All involved travel outside of Atlantic Canada. There was one in each of the province’s four zones. The daily report gave no indication as to where the eastern zone case is located.

As of Sunday, there were 29 active cases in Nova Scotia. There is no one in hospital with the coronavirus in the province.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, applauded the low numbers but once again encouraged Nova Scotians to remain vigilant and on guard against the potentially-fatal virus.

“I want to thank Nova Scotians for continuing to take steps to prevent the reduce the spread of CVOVID-19 in their communities,” said Strang. “Active cases across the province show us that we cannot let our guard down.”

Nova Scotia Health issued a potential exposure advisory on Saturday for travelers on a pair of Toronto to Halifax flights. The first relates to Air Canada flight 604 on Jan. 5 that departed Toronto at 8 a.m. Passengers in rows 2228, seats C, D, E and F are asked to book a COVID-19 test.

The second potential exposure advisory is Swoop flight 408 on Jan. 8 that departed at 5:30 p.m. Passengers in rows 16-22, seats A, B, C and D are directed to set up a test. Of course, all people arriving in Nova Scotia from outside of the Atlantic Provinces are required to self-isolate for a minimum of two weeks.