Nova Scotia reports 3 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday

Nova Scotia confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, all of which have been identified as the variant first reported in the U.K.

The newly identified cases are Nova Scotia residents who are not in the province at this time.

The cases still count toward the province's total of known active cases, which now stands at 42. 

Two of the new cases are residents of the eastern health zone and one is a resident of the western health zone. 

None of the new cases has known close contacts in Nova Scotia. 

The province has now recorded 44 cases of the variant first reported in the U.K. and 10 cases of the variant first reported in South Africa.

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 2,770 COVID-19 tests on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, Nova Scotia had administered 182,867 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 31,998 second doses. 

Restrictions on N.B. travellers

Thursday marked the reinstatement of restrictions on travellers from New Brunswick entering Nova Scotia. They must now self-isolate in Nova Scotia for 14 days. 

The change was prompted by an increase in cases in New Brunswick, including a variant cluster in Edmundston.

Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin urged residents to help keep their communities safe.

"Our strong adherence to public health protocols has helped us limit the spread of the virus," he said in a news release.

New potential exposures

Nova Scotia Health is reporting two new potential COVID-19 exposures, including one on a flight to Halifax from Toronto.

Anyone who was on the following flight in the specified rows and seats should book a COVID-19 test on the self-assessment website or by contacting 811, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms. 

• Air Canada Flight 624 from Toronto on April 13 (9:15 p.m.) arriving in Halifax (12:15 a.m. on April 14). Passengers in rows 21-27 seats C, D, E and F. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 28.

All other passengers on this flight should continue to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.

The second possible exposure is in Bayer's Lake. Public Health said individuals who were at the following locations during the listed times do not have to self-isolate while they await test results, unless they have symptoms of COVID-19.

• Marshalls at 209 Chain Lake Dr., Halifax on April 12 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Anyone exposed may develop symptoms through April 26.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswick reported 16 new cases on Wednesday for a total of 141 known active cases.  
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported two new cases Thursday for a total of 15 active cases. One person is in hospital.
• P.E.I. had six active cases as of Wednesday.