Travellers arriving in N.S. from N.L. must now quarantine for 14 days

Travellers coming to Nova Scotia from Newfoundland and Labrador will have to isolate for 14 days upon arrival after Canada's most easterly province reported a surge Tuesdayin COVID-19 cases.

Most of the 30 new cases arein the metro area of St. John's, where officials were quick to implement gatheringrestrictions effective midnight in an effort to stop the spread.

In Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil announced the new quarantine measure at a news conference in Halifax as the province reported just one new case of COVID-19.

The province'schief medical officer of healthsaid the outbreak in Newfoundlandwhere there are now 57 active casesserves as a reminder of how easilyCOVID-19 can spread.

"We've always acted quickly and necessarily when we've had to, so I think it's important that we now impose this restriction for all other provinces except P.E.I. now," said Dr. Robert Strang.

Prince Edward Island reported one new case of COVID-19Tuesday, bringing the total number of active cases to four.

Atlantic bubble update

P.E.I.'s chief public health officer said Tuesday she doesn't expect the Atlantic bubble to reopen until at least April.

Dr. Heather Morrison said government officials will have to negotiate any resumption of the bubble, which would let residents travel among the four provinces without having to isolate.

Strang said he and his counterparts in the region discussed the issue Monday.

"We all agreed that it's aspirational," he said. "We certainly have a lot of work to do, and now Newfoundland and the situation they're in makes that even harder. April 1is about six weeks away it's still possible but we'll have to get there step by step."

1 new case Tuesday

In the meantime, Strangsaid Nova Scotianstravelling toNewfoundland and Labrador should only do so for essential reasons.

There are nownine active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. One person is in hospital in ICU.

The new case announced Tuesday is in the central health zone and is related to travel outside the region.The person is self-isolating as required by public health guidelines

Provincial health authority labs conducted 1,741 tests on Monday.

Somepublic health restrictions were loosened Mondayas Nova Scotiacontinues to experience low COVID-19 case numbers.

Vaccines for people over 80

The province is alsopreparing to vaccinate residents over 80 beginning in late February.

The first community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinic is expected tobeginFeb. 22 and run until Feb. 25 at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, with moreclinicsto be established around the province in March.

Strang said1,000 doses of the vaccine have been set aside for the firstclinic, meaning 500 people will beimmunized.

The clinicwill be invitation-only, and those eligible will be identified through MSI and contacted by mail to schedule an appointment. People will start receivingletters with details this week.

"The invitationletter is intended only for the person who receives the letter. It cannot be transferred or extended to another individual. It is based on age and health-card number," Strang said.

He added that people who receive the letter must book appointments for their first and second dose, which will be administered 21 days later. Individuals who are allergic to any of the vaccine's ingredients or who have an autoimmune issue are advised to consult with a doctor before booking an appointment.

People who are selected for a vaccine can be accompanied by one supportperson whowill not receive the shot.

"We know that not everyone who receives a letter will be able to or want to receive a vaccine at this time," said Strang. "We've planned for thatso we have sent out slightly more letters than there are available appointment times to ensure that we have fully booked clinics and do not waste vaccine."

Anyone who misses out on thisparticular clinicwill be scheduled for a future clinic.

Other prototype clinics are being planned for pharmacies and Mi'kmaw communities.

Strang said four pharmacy prototype clinics will open in Halifax County, Shelburne County, Cumberland County and Inverness Countyby earlyMarch.

All vaccinations to ramp up next week

Strang said Nova Scotiais expecting1,950 doses of the Pfizervaccine to arrive this week, withmore anticipated next week.

"The good news is next week we will get the single biggest shipment of vaccineto date 8,775 doses of Pfizer vaccines," hesaid. "We will certainly be ramping up our vaccine program to administer that amount of vaccine as quickly as possible."

Health-care workers and long-term care facility residents and staffare continuing to be vaccinated this week atclinics throughout the province.

Since Dec. 15, the provincehas received almost 34,800 COVID-19 vaccines.

According to a news release,18,826doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had beenadministered in Nova Scotia as of Monday, including5,642 second doses.

Strang said the province is aiming to administer 12,000 doses a day by mid- to late-April, once supply is guaranteed.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported15 new cases on Tuesday, making for 183active cases. Seven people were in hospital, two in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 30new cases on Tuesday, the second-highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic. The province has57active cases and 15 schools in the St. John's area were closed Tuesday due to the surge in the cases.
• P.E.I.reported one new case on Tuesday. The province has fourknown active cases.

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