Dozen new COVID cases in province
Dalhousie University and St. F.X. have reported COVID19 cases on their campuses.
In an advisory on its website, Dalhousie said it learned Tuesday that a student who lived in a Halifax campus residence had tested positive.
"At the onset of symptoms, the student sought testing and informed the university upon a positive result," the advisory said. "They are now in selfisolation as per our approved COVID-19 residence support plan. We thank the individual for taking immediate action and are supporting our student fully in what we hope will be a speedy recovery. ...
"Public Health has informed Dalhousie that the potential exposure risk in this case is low. Any residence spaces accessed by this individual have undergone additional cleaning and sanitization, and Public Health has not identified any campus locations for an exposure notification at this time."
As with every new case, public health is working to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with the student.
"If you have not been contacted by Public Health you are not deemed to have been at risk," the memo said. "Respecting both privacy and public health matters, this is as much information as we can share."
In an advisory on the St. F.X. site, the university said a student who arrived on campus on Sunday opted to get a COVID-19 test, which turned out to be positive. The student has been isolating since their arrival and continued to do so "with the appropriate academic and operational supports in place as per our pandemic plans."
The St. F.X. memo doesn't address the level of potential infection risk on campus related to the case but said it will keep the university community informed.
"Any contact tracing required is being managed by Public Health, and those considered to be close contacts are being approached directly by them."
All post-secondary students arriving from outside the Atlantic region must self-isolate for 14 days. Public health recommends students get a COVID-19 test between Day 6 and Day 8 of their isolation.
Nova Scotia reported 12 new COVID-19 cases in total on Wednesday, including the St. F.X. student's case in the eastern health zone.
There are nine new cases in the central zone, seven of which are close contacts of previously reported cases. Another is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada and one case is under investigation.
There are two new cases in the western zone, with one related to travel outside Atlantic Canada and the other a close contact of a previously reported case.
The number of active cases jumped from 19 to 29 on Wednesday when resolved cases were taken into account.
One of the cases reported on Jan. 4, which remains under investigation, has been identified as the Dalhousie student.
"I want to welcome returning students and thank them for following public health protocols. I also remind asymptomatic students to get a COVID-19 test during their self-isolation,” said Premier Stephen Mcneil in a news release. “Staying vigilant and following all the protective measures will help keep our case numbers low as our vaccine program is rolled out across the province.” Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,578 Nova Scotia tests on Tuesday.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 121,171 tests. There have been 431 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. No one is in hospital. Four hundred and two cases are now resolved.
"It is crucial that we all do our part to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID19,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, in the release.
“Together we have the ability to stop the virus from spreading exponentially by limiting social contacts, practising social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands and self-isolating when required.”
The province has restarted pop-up COVID-19 rapid testing sites. A clinic will be held Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m. at Halifax Central Library.