Nova Scotia's streak of no-COVID has ended.
Two new COVID-19 cases were reported Friday, both of them in the Central zone and both related to travel outside of Canada.
The province had gone 15 days without a case before the Health Department announced the cases, which were identified among 456 tests that were done Thursday at the QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab.
"The individuals have been in self-isolation since returning to the province, as required," the department said in a news release.
To date, Nova Scotia has 63,647 negative test results, 1,069 positive COVID-19 cases, 1,003 resolved cases and 64 deaths.
Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, will hold a news conference at noon today. It can be viewed here.
Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Health Authority has issued a potential COVID exposure warning related to Air Canada flight AC 626 on July 19 from Toronto to Halifax.
"While anyone on the flight could have been exposed, based on Public Health’s investigation to date, passengers in rows 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, seats C, D-F are more likely to have had close contact," the authority said in a news release. "Passengers in these seats are asked to call 811 for advice."
It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus on the flight may develop symptoms up to 14 days afterward. This would be up to, and including, Aug. 3.
Those on the flight should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
The authority also is contacting anyone else known to be a close contact of the new cases announced Friday. It's not clear whether those new cases are related to the Air Canada flight.
COVID-19 symptoms include:
- Fever (chills, sweats, etc.)
- Cough (new or worsening)
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Hoarse voice
- Diarrhea
- Unusual fatigue
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
- Red, purple or blueish lesions, on the feet, toes or fingers without clear cause
