COVID-19 tests now necessary before most surgeries in Nova Scotia

Some people awaiting surgery in Nova Scotia will need to be tested forCOVID-19 before their procedurecanmove ahead.

Nova Scotia Health announced the change Tuesday amid rising case numbers and community spread, primarily in the Halifax area. The new rules are effective immediately and apply to people who may need general anesthesia.

Patients who live in the Central Zone, Enfield and Mount Uniacke will have to be tested 72 hours before surgery.

People who have visited any business or specific location with a known exposure riskalso fall under that requirement.

Nova Scotia Health saidpatients coming from New Brunswickzones 1 and 2,which include Saint John and Moncton,will also have to be tested.

Those patients will have their tests arranged for them, while urgent cases will be handled in the hospital.

On Tuesday, a number of new restrictions in the Halifax area were announced as the province reported 37 new cases of COVID-19.

Limit activity, say health officials

Nova Scotia Health said approximately five surgeries were cancelled as a result of the new rule.

"It's our goal to get those patients who were bumped while waiting for a test in for surgery over the next couple days," it said in a statement.

Patients are being askedto limit activity to minimize theirchances of being exposed to COVID-19 before their operations.

The province's chiefmedical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, said Tuesday his colleagues at Public Health areworking closely with the provincial health authorityto developnew safety protocols.

"They are, right now, looking at what they need to do to deal with the potential surge of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, and then working through what other services need to be shifted," Strang said. "We're working completely collaboratively."

Hospital visits were suspended as of Nov. 20to most patients in the Central Zone to prevent the spread of COVID-19 withinhospitals.

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