With N.S. Covid-19 Cases On The Rise, No Evidence Yet Of Community Spread
HALIFAX — Rising Covid-19 numbers in Nova Scotia and across Canada have some residents worried the coronavirus might be spreading out of control in the province. But as the province investigates infections of unknown origin, health officials say there’s no evidence of community spread.
After months of low-to-no Covid-19 cases in Nova Scotia, the province has seen a surge in infections over the past few days.
As of today, there are 16 active Covid-19 cases in the province. Four of those cases are still under investigation, which means health officials still can’t confirm exactly where they came from.
However, despite the unknown origins of some Nova Scotia cases, the province’s top health official says there’s no indication yet of community spread.
“There is nothing at this time that points to general community spread here in Nova Scotia,” Dr. Robert Strang said today.
Strang said the province is right now investigating two clusters of people dealing with Covid-19 infections “where travel is a factor.” Health officials are trying to confirm the initial source of the infection and identify anyone else who may have been exposed.
“What we do know is that within each of those clusters there is at least one individual that’s been outside the bubble,” Strang said, adding that there are still other possible sources of the infection.
He wouldn’t completely eliminate the possibility the cases could be connected to community spread but said “everything we’re seeing” so far points to other conclusions.
Even without community spread in Nova Scotia, Strang said he is increasingly worried about rising Covid-19 case counts across Canada and the rest of the world.
He pointed to Manitoba, which until recently was in a similar boat to Nova Scotia, with Covid-19 largely under control.
Yesterday, the province announced 241 new cases of Covid-19 and five deaths related to the disease. In total, the province now has a staggering 3,455 active cases.
“Things can change in the blink of an eye,” Strang said, before reiterating the importance of health restrictions Nova Scotia still has in place.
Strang said social distancing and quarantine measures are working here, and that it’s vital for all Nova Scotians to continue following them.
“If our plan in Nova Scotia is going to work we need everybody to be on board: not half of us, not three-quarters of us, not just high-risk people, but everybody,” he said.
With provinces like Ontario and Quebec also seeing surging case numbers, Strang said his team is “continuing to look at” whether to tighten border restrictions even further.
He said easing and tightening restrictions is a “dance” he and premier Stephen McNeil will continue to do over the coming weeks and months as they weigh the importance of reducing infections with the emotional and economic tolls closed borders continue to have on Nova Scotians.
Strang also said health officials are looking into whether or how to use rapid, “point of care” tests similar to those currently being piloted in Calgary.
In Calgary, residents and eligible international travellers can take a test for Covid-19 and possibly reduce their quarantine to as little as two days with a negative result.
Strang said Nova Scotia is “looking at how we could use these appropriately,” but said they might not be the solution some think they are.
He said data from manufacturer tests held in optimal conditions often can’t live up to real-world situations and that rapid tests tend to be less accurate than the standard test
“Getting a negative test with one of these rapid tests doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have Covid-19,” Strang said, adding the province will have to look at using them “thoughtfully and very carefully.”