Nova Scotia announced Monday that all public schools in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and surrounding areas will close Tuesday, and that tighter restrictions will be added as a result of the rising COVID-19 numbers.
Nova Scotia reported 66 new cases of COVID-19 Monday — the highest case count recorded since the pandemic began.
The province said all public schools are set to move to at-home learning beginning Thursday.
READ MORE: COVID-19: Nova Scotia reports a record 63 new cases, doubles large gatherings fine to $2,000
The province said families will receive an update from their school centre or principal later Monday. More information about a return-to-school date will be released Friday, May 7.
The decision impacts all pre-primary children and grades primary to 12 public school students in Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), as well as Conseil scolaire acadian provincial (CSAP) schools and schools in the Enfield, Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke areas with the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE).
New Restrictions added
Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, announced that tighter restrictions are returning in all areas of the province.
The province said people should avoid travel outside their own community unless it is absolutely necessary such as for school, work, health care, child care, child custody, legal requirements, and family visitation under the purview of the Department of Community Services.
Effective immediately, all school field trips and school-organized activities that bring students from different schools together, such as sports and music, have been stopped.
Restrictions announced last week for Halifax Regional Municipality, Hubbards, Milford, Lantz, Elmsdale, Enfield, Mount Uniacke, South Uniacke, Ecum Secum and Trafalgar remain in place.
In all other parts of the province, the following restrictions are effective 8 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in effect until at least May 20:
People who do not follow the gathering limit can be fined. The fine is now $2,000 for each person at an illegal gathering.
66 new cases
For the first time in Nova Scotia, Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, said somebody in their 20s is in the ICU, after 66 new cases of COVID-19 were announced Monday.
“I hear many people say they’re not worried about having COVID….they believe they are young and healthy…but COVID-19 can have devastating effects on anyone,” Strang said.
He said this third wave is seeing an increased number of young people with severe illness and hospitalization in ICUs.
Eight of the new cases were identified Sunday, April 25, at the following schools:
Three cases are in Eastern Zone, one of which was identified Sunday, April 25, at Jubilee Elementary in Sydney Mines.
Two cases are in Western Zone, and one case is in Northern Zone.
Premier Iain Rankin said at the COVID-19 briefing Monday that none of the province’s students so far have tested positive.
“I encourage everyone to get tested, including students,” said Rankin. “We are monitoring the situation…and we will act swiftly if required.”
As of Monday, Nova Scotia has 323 active cases of COVID-19. Five people are in hospital, two of which are in ICU.
People 55 to 59 eligible for vaccination
Starting Monday, the province said people 55 and older can book appointments for Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at clinics across the province.
All community clinics and many participating pharmacies have available appointments for this age group.
AstraZeneca vaccine appointments remain open for people who are 55 to 64 years old.
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s labs completed 11,335 Nova Scotia tests on April 25.
As of April 25, 276,075 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Of those, 34,816 Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia said it has completed 391,079 tests. There have been 1,030 positive COVID-19 cases and two deaths.
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