Premier Says COVID Now Threatens Health System
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER SAYS GO HOME AND STAY THERE.
Premier Stephen McNeil says, “We need to flip the switch on COVID-19 right now.” Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, the premier said, “COVID-19 is moving quickly in Halifax, and we need to stop it from spreading further into Nova Scotia. We must bring COVID-19 under control before our health system is overwhelmed and it infects our most vulnerable citizens.”
The strong words follow news of thirty-seven new cases. Nova Scotia now has 87 active cases of COVID-19.
The province has imposed strong restrictions on a large part of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in an effort to contain the local outbreak. Nova Scotians are being asked to avoid non-essential travel in and out of western and central HRM (defined from Hubbards to Porters Lake and the communities to Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke in Hants County.
The new restrictions in HRM include a reduced gathering limit to five from ten, restaurants and licenced establishments are closed for in-person dining but may offer take-out or delivery, retail stores must restrict shoppers and staff to 25 per cent or less of allowable capacity, -- organized sports, recreational, cultural, and faith-based activities are paused, fitness, recreational facilities, libraries and museums are closed, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the casino and First Nations gaming establishments are closed.
The province is also beefing up enforcement of illegal gatherings, including $1,000 tickets for all attendees.
There are also new restrictions for the rest of the province, with no visitors except volunteers and designated caregivers to long-term care facilities and Adult Residential Centres and Regional Rehabilitation Centres, sports teams are restricted to local or regional play only, and there will be no extracurricular activities between schools.
Dr. Robert Strang, the chief medical officer, emphasized the point by saying, “Go to work or go to school, then go home and stay there.”
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