After conducting 4,138 tests, Nova Scotia reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases to 142.
All of the cases are in the Central zone.
We’re now almost a week into a targeted two-week lockdown for most of the Halifax area and Hants County.
“As we get closer to Dec. 9, we’ll look at the different indicators and we’ll decide if we need to extend the measures and, if so, what measures may need to stay in place and for how much longer,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health.
Four schools are temporarily closed after COVID-19 cases were linked to them.
At Bedford South School, testing is still taking place, but there have been no new cases since one case was reported there.
“That school will remain closed until at least next Monday, then we’ll reassess, but were very encouraged by the cooperation from the community and the epidemiology that’s coming back looks very good,” Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil.
Meanwhile, a mobile testing unit is being sent to the Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning, N.S.
“At that school we’ve had two cases that we’re still unclear how they’re linked and we’re doing this testing as a way to get a better sense of how the virus may have spread within that school community, if it has spread at all,” said Strang.
CASES REMAIN STABLE, BUT CLOSE CONTACTS ARE UP
An expected spike during the second wave has not occurred and the number of cases remains relatively low and stable compared to last week.
“A low and stable number of daily cases is just one of the indicators we look to when it comes to lifting restrictions. We also look at the average number of close contacts for each case,” Strang said.
The number has increased to eight close contacts per case during the second wave.
“That’s eight individuals who themselves might become infectious and then spread it to others,” Strang said. “So you can see why I keep saying we need to reduce our social contacts, keep our numbers of people that were in close contact with outside of our households low, because every additional person we just increased the chance for the any exposure to that amplify very quickly. When people move, the virus moves with it.”
