NOTE: This week is now over. For the very latest news, please go here. But for an informative look back at exactly how Nova Scotia responded to COVID-19 in realtime, keep on reading.
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Editor's note: In its 28 years The Coast has never been a just-the-facts news service, but for these strange times this news centre offers quick-hit updates.
Sunday, August 30
Pandemic on pause
Just like yesterday, today's provincial COVID-19 report doesn't have a lot going on. New cases: zero. Active cases: still five. People in the hospital: none. If only every weekend was like this.
Saturday, August 29
Back into a holding pattern
Yesterday had cases and recoveries and an abundance of coronavirus tests being performed. Today is a return to quiet on the COVID-19 front. The province is reporting no new cases, no recoveries, nobody so sick they got admitted to the hospital, no deaths, no record testing numbers.
It’s kinda manic, these swings from nothing happening to a lot happening and back. But that's OK—any slow day for the virus is welcome.
Friday, August 28
Getting busy
After a quiet yesterday, Nova Scotia’s got a lot of COVID-19 action today. The province is reporting two new cases, both in the NS Health Authority’s Northern zone (an area that includes the towns of Truro, Amherst and Pictou). The province’s announcement says these cases “are connected to previously reported cases.”
While two new patients got the disease, two others recovered from their infections, leaving a total of five active cases. Nobody died today, and none of the five current patients are in hospital.
The province reports a statistic that we rarely, if ever, mention here: the number of COVID tests completed daily at the NSHA’s labs. For the last couple of months, the average has been holding steady at right around 400 tests per day, but the numbers have been tracking upward lately, doubtless because of returning post-secondary students from outside the Atlantic bubble. (As you probably know, a public health regulation that started Thursday, March 20, requires such students to each get tested for COVID three times during their two-week quarantine.)
Friday's total is a recent record, with 1,058 tests completed. (As you'd imagine, the numbers reported today reflect testing that happened yesterday.) The last time there were more daily tests was exactly three months ago, on May 28, when the province reported 1,136 tests. As more students arrive and embark on their three-test cycles, we expect the labs to get even busier.
Thursday, August 27
A nothing day, which is something to be happy about
No new cases, no COVID-19 deaths, no recoveries, no provincial briefings. Not much happening today, COVID-wise. And that is just fine with us.
Wednesday, August 26
We’ll meet again
It’s been a while since an episode of The Steve & Strang Show came out. Premier Stephen McNeil and Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Robert Strang, used to give daily webcast COVID-19 press conferences, then reduced the schedule to Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday briefings. Then dropped the idea of a schedule completely, just calling for an occasional briefing at their pleasure. Or would that be leisure, since they didn’t have very many?
Anyway, grumpy journalist vibes aside, a briefing is happening today at 3pm. You can watch live at novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast, or catch it later at the Nova Scotia government's YouTube page.
There’s no indication if this briefing is about a specific topic—such as changes to the school reopening plan, stricter masking protocols, Nova Scotia dropping the quarantine requirement for visitors from outside the Atlantic bubble or the premier rescinding his recent resignation. The province’s briefing announcement simply says Strang and McNeil “will provide an update.” Consider our curiosity piqued.
So much for streaks
We definitely got ahead of things yesterday, talking about how Nova Scotia had gone two whole days without a new case. Today’s COVID-19 update from the province reports one new case, with no recoveries or deaths, for a total of five currently active cases.
Like eight of the 10 recents cases, this one is in the Northern health zone (Truro, Amherst, Pictou). The provincial report says it “is connected to a previously reported case.”
Tuesday, August 25
Embarking on a new no-case streak
We’re happy to report that the province is reporting no new cases, no deaths and three people recovered from COVID-19. There are now four active cases—none of the patients are in the hospital—and Nova Scotia has gone two days without a positive diagnosis.
Two days is a long way from the provincial C19 record of 20 days in a row without a case. But it’s a whole lot better than getting a case. Baby steps. And masks. And physical distancing.
Monday, August 24
A clear start to the week
After yesterday’s death and two new cases of COVID-19, it’s a relief that the province is today reporting no new cases, no deaths. Nova Scotia currently has seven cases of people with the disease, but none of them are severe enough to be in hospital.
This COVID quiet can’t last. It couldn’t last when the province went 20 days without a new case, and it can’t last now that we are in a mini-outbreak. But it’s sure nice when it happens. Happy Monday, everybody.
The collection of news updates from the August 17 week is here. August 10 week is here. August 3 week is here.
July 27 week is here. July 20 week is here. July 13 week is here. July 6 week is here.
June 29 week is here. June 22 week is here. June 15 week is here. June 8 week is here. June 1 week is here.
May 25 week is here. May 18 week is here. May 11 week is here. May 4 week is here.
April 27 week is here. April 20 week is here. April 13 week is here.
