COVID-19: NS breaks daily record for seventh consecutive day with 537 new cases – Halifax | The Canadian News

Nova Scotia has broken its daily COVID-19 case count record for the seventh consecutive day with 537 new cases.

In addition, the province has announced a death related to COVID-19. A man in his 50s in the North Zone has died.

In a statement, Prime Minister Tim Houston said the holiday season “is not the time to lower our guard” as cases continue to rise driven by the Omicron variant.

“It saddens me to learn of the loss of another from Nova Scotia, so close to what is supposed to be a happy time of year. I offer my condolences to the grieving family and friends, ”he said.

Of the new cases, 434 are in the Central Zone, which includes Halifax. The East Zone had 36 cases, the North Zone 44 cases and the West Zone reported 23 cases.

Ten people are hospitalized, three of them in ICU.

Sprouts

The Nova Scotia Health Authority has reported a COVID-19 outbreak at Dartmouth General Hospital. Fewer than five patients have tested positive and all patients are being monitored.

“Infection prevention and control measures are being implemented, and the NSHA is currently evaluating all patients and personnel identified as a close contact,” the province noted.

Additionally, an additional patient tested positive at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish. The total number of cases is still less than five. The tests are available to all staff and physicians at the location who want to be tested.

An additional Parkstone Enhanced Care resident in Halifax tested positive. So far, a total of two residents and one facility staff member have tested positive.

Additionally, an additional resident in Parkland Antigonish, a senior community, tested positive. That brings the total for that facility to three residents and two staff members.

Meanwhile, no new cases have been reported in the outbreak at the QEII Health Sciences Center’s Halifax Infirmary site or the outbreak at the Ocean View Continuing Care Center in Eastern Passage.

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Tighter restrictions

Wednesday also ushered in stricter restrictions, just before the holidays.

As of 6 a.m., the province has lowered the meeting limit for informal indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 people from the same household or a consistent social group.

Festivals, sporting events and in-person performances are no longer allowed. Events held by recognized companies, such as weddings and funerals, can have 25 percent of their legal capacity up to a maximum of 50 people.

Paid sick leave

The province announced Wednesday that it will relaunch its COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program on January 10, 2022.

Those who have been affected by this fourth wave may qualify for up to four paid sick days. The program will be in effect until March 31, 2022 and will be retroactive to include sick days as of December 20.

“We know people are feeling more stressed this holiday season and we want you to know that more help will be provided with the relaunch of this temporary program,” Prime Minister Tim Houston said in a statement.

The program applies to people who are unable to work remotely and lose less than 50 percent of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to COVID-19. It will cover the wages of employees, including the self-employed, up to a maximum of $ 20 per hour or $ 160 per day. That means the maximum pay during the 15-week program is $ 640 per worker.

Eligible businesses that continue to pay their employees during their leave can be reimbursed under the program.

The province noted that the program supplements Canada’s federal sickness recovery benefit, which can apply after an employee has been off for 50 percent or more of their scheduled workweek. That program runs through May 2022.

Nova Scotia’s initial paid sick leave program covered sick days from May 10 to July 31, during the third wave of COVID-19 in the province. About $ 600,000 were paid and 4,000 sick days were covered.