Nova Scotia reports single-day record 426 new COVID-19 cases Saturday

Nova Scotia is reporting 426 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, breaking yet another daily case count record this week.

This is the ninth day in a row the province has announced more than 100 new infections. The province announced 394 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. 

There are 296 new cases in central zone, 70 in eastern zone, 35 in northern zone and 25 cases in western zone, according to a news release from the Department of Health and Wellness. 

According to the release, the province will be sharing "abbreviated" COVID-19 updates over the weekend. 

There is no new information about hospitalizations. As of Friday, seven people were in hospital, including two in intensive care. 

Nova Scotia Health labs completed 8,996 tests on Friday.

In light of the jump in cases, the province implemented tighter restrictions on gatherings and businesses Friday. Some bars and restaurants report having to endure staffing challenges with some of them closing temporarily due to employees testing positive. 

The QEII Health Sciences Centre said Friday it would be postponing some non-urgent surgeries beginning Monday. 

Clinic to help those with acute respiratory symptoms

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Antigonish area, Nova Scotia Health said it is holding a pop-up clinic for people with acute respiratory symptoms.

A spokesperson with the health authority said they have been piloting the clinic at St. Francis Xavier University this week, and it is now being extended to the community.

"The premise is to provide access for patients with upper respiratory symptoms like cough, sore throat, earache, etc. that feel their symptoms are severe enough that they need the advice of a health care provider, but not so severe that they need emergency department level of care," Lisa MacSween said in an email Saturday.

The clinic will be held at the St. FX Health Centre, also known as the Bloomfield Centre, on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. AT by appointment only. 

Appointments can only be booked by calling 902-870-7008 between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The health authority said the clinic is not for people with chronic respiratory illness, general health concerns or COVID-19 testing or immunization.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswick reported 133 new cases on Saturday and one death.There are 1,232 active cases. There are 40 people in hospital, 13 in ICU.
• Newfoundland and Labrador reported 23 new cases on Saturday, with no one in hospital related to the virus.
• Prince Edward Island reported 31 new cases on Friday, a single-day record for the province. There are 75 active cases, P.E.I.'s highest active case count since the pandemic was declared.