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.
Display problems with The Coast's Nova Scotia COVID-19 case graph? For the mobile version click here.
Editor's note: In its 27 years The Coast has never been a just-the-facts news service, but for these strange times this news centre offers quick-hit updates.
Friday, June 19
A perfect 10
No new cases, no new deaths, plus one of Nova Scotia’s two remaining patients with COVID-19 has recovered: Today’s C19 report from the province is terrific. And that makes 10 straight days with a perfect case-and-death-free record. Even the gloriously sunny weather agrees—it’s a great day to be in Nova Scotia.
Thursday, June 18
About those details...
Our full story about today's changes to the COVID-19 gathering rules and the premier's rush to open Nova Scotia to tourists from all over Canada—i.e. a tale of two bubbles—is ready for you now right here.
More openings, less distancing
Premier Stephen McNeil is live on Facebook right now announcing new easings to the COVID-19 restrictions. Among these: Instead of household bubbles, people can get together in in groups of up to 10 WITHOUT PHYSICAL DISTANCING. These people don’t have to be exclusive to the group, although they are “strongly encouraged” to keep a consistent group. People can gather WITH physical distancing in groups of up to 50, allowing things like theatre, festivals, weddings, sports and events on a small scale. And playgrounds can reopen. We’ll have more details soon.
Another day, another great report
For the ninth day in a row, the province’s COVID-19 update features the welcome news of no news—no new cases, no C19-related deaths. There are still two patients in the province dealing with the disease, neither of them in long-term care, but otherwise Nova Scotia has a remarkably clean bill of health.
At this point the next milestone is to have no cases for a full infection cycle, the 14 days it can take for a person infected by the coronavirus to develop symptoms. And at this rate, we’ll be there Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 17
Eight days a week
How long is a week? Most people say seven days—as in all the days of the week, Wednesday through to Tuesday. Others like to think a little differently and count eight: That would be the week from Wednesday to Wednesday.
If this distinction ever mattered, as of now it has officially stopped mattering to Nova Scotia, because today the province is yet again reporting zero new cases of COVID-19 and zero virus-related deaths. That’s eight caseless days in a row, from Wednesday June 10 to Wednesday June 17 inclusive, a solid week any way you count it.
Tuesday, June 16
Our first week without cases
The province’s COVID-19 update is reporting no new cases, no deaths and one person who had the disease has now recovered. This means there are only two active cases in the whole province, which is happy news. But it gets better: Today makes seven days in a row of no cases and no deaths, a COVID-free week. That’s the current record streak without cases.
The last reported case was June 9, believed to be a resident at Northwood, although that was the day before the big data merge to get everything on the Panorama system, so there’s an element of uncertainty. Anyway, there are now no active cases at Northwood or any other nursing home—if that patient a week ago did live at Northwood, they’ve recovered.
The number of deaths on our map increased by one since yesterday, from 61 to 62, even though nobody died in the last seven days. That’s because our map was wrong, as careful reader Silverdutchess noted in the comments. Now the map is correct, and we apologize for the error. That death was also reported June 9, like the last case, so just to make sure the message is received loud and clear: Nova Scotia has now gone seven days without a new case or COVID death. It’s been a strong week.
Monday, June 15
Happy anniversary
Today is the three-month anniversary of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. After the first confirmed cases were announced on Sunday, March 15, there have been over 1,000 more cases diagnosed, and 61 people have died of the disease. But we get to mark the quarter-year point with no new cases and no new deaths, something to celebrate for sure.
This makes six days in a row with no case diagnoses, although there are still three active cases in the province. According to the provincial report, two of those three patients are in the hospital, one of them in intensive care.
The collection of news updates from the 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.
