Third death at Pugwash nursing home

Another resident of a Pugwash nursing home has died from COVID-19. A woman in her 90s is the third resident of East Cumberland Lodge to die in the outbreak at the home.

The outbreak is linked to community spread sparked by a Bible camp gathering organized by the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Amherst in late October. Its pastor, Robert Smith, has been fined for not ensuring people were vaccinated at the event. A total of 32 residents and 10 staff members at the nursing home have tested positive for COVID-19.

"This is a very sad day and I send my sympathies to the family and loved ones of the woman who has passed, as well as everyone at East Cumberland Lodge," said Premier Tim Houston in a news release Friday. "I ask all Nova Scotians to do everything you can to help keep COVID-19 out of our long-term care facilities and our communities. This means getting fully vaccinated, staying home if you are sick and following public health measures."

Of 27 new cases, 13 are in the central zone, seven in the western zone, six in the northern zone and one in the eastern zone.

ACTIVE CASE NUMBER DROPS

There is also evidence of limited community spread in Halifax and northern Nova Scotia. "It is important everyone understands Nova Scotia continues to see new cases of COVID-19 — we are not out of the woods yet. We must remain vigilant, especially to protect residents and staff at long-term care homes," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, in the news release.

With 40 recoveries, the number of active cases has dropped to 223, including five people in hospital, seven in intensive care.

MORE SCHOOL EXPOSURES

Four more schools were added to Education Department’s COVID-19 exposure list on Friday: Cumberland North Academy, Amherst; Chebucto Heights Elementary, Halifax;

Dutch Settlement Elementary, Dutch Settlement; and Kingswood Elementary, Hammonds Plains. So far this year there have been 187 COVID-19 exposure notices at Nova Scotia schools. Many are for the same schools and the Education Department does not provide specifics such as the number of cases.