SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Post has learned there is a patient at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney with COVID-19.
A source told the post the person tested positive on Saturday and as a result ICU staff were sent home to self-isolate due to possible exposure. The staff was replaced by other medical workers from different floors of the hospital to cover the rest of the shift.
Over the weekend a new case of COVID-19 was identified as being in the Eastern region.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority has confirmed there are eight medical staff from the Cape Breton Regional Hospital self-isolating as a precaution.
Carla Adams, a media spokesperson for the NSHA, couldn’t confirm whether or not there is a case of COVID-19 at the hospital as they have to protect their patient’s privacy.
However, Adams did confirm the staff was told to self-isolate which means they feel they had come in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive or potentially positive.
“When staff are identified as contacts of possible or confirmed case of COVID-19 they are advised by Occupational Health regarding isolation as per Public Health guidelines,” she said.
“This has not affected patient care.”
On Monday, the province announced one more COVID-19 death at Northwood long-term care facility in Halifax. There have now been 48 deaths in the province due to COVID-19, with 42 of the deaths at Northwood. There was also one new case of COVID-19, now a total of 1,019 confirmed cases.
There are currently three licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors' facilities in Nova Scotia with active cases of COVID-19. Northwood in Halifax currently has 156 residents and 18 staff with active cases. One other facility has one staff member with an active case of COVID-19 and another facility has one resident with an active case.
"COVID-19 is a terrible disease, but we all play a role in how it impacts our province," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, in a news release. "Maintain social distance, wash your hands, stay home as much as possible, and clean high-use surfaces."
The QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab completed 291 Nova Scotia tests on Sunday and is operating 24-hours.
To date, Nova Scotia has 33,869 negative test results. Nine individuals are currently in hospital, three of those in ICU. A total of 767 individuals have now recovered.
