Nova Scotia reports 3 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday

Nova Scotia reported threenew cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, which includeda Marine Atlantic crew member.

"We are reporting another day where the new case numbers are in the single digits but the virus is still in the province," Dr. Robert Strang, the province'schief medical officer of health, said in a news release.

"We must continue to follow the public health measures wear a mask, limit social contacts, practise social distancing, adhere to the gathering limit, stay home if you feel unwell and wash your hands."

There is one new case in the province's northern zone which is a close contact of a previously reported case.

One case was also identified in the central zone and is related to travel outside Atlantic Canada.

The third case is in the eastern zone and is an individual who works on an Marine Atlantic ferry, which operates betweenNorth Sydney, N.S., and Port aux Basques, N.L.

Nova Scotia public health officials contacted Marine Atlantic about the positive case on Tuesday, according to a release from the Crown corporation Wednesday. The crew member who tested positive had recently been aboard the Blue Puttees.

The case is currently under investigation and contact tracing is under way.

Both the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labradorgovernments have said that all crew members who were on the vessel and completed their shift, as well as crew members currently on the shift, should be tested.

On Wednesday, the Inverary Manor long-term care home in Inverness, N.S.,announced it was immediately suspending all visits due to the case in the eastern zone.

Nova Scotia Heath also issued a possible exposure notice for several Marine Atlantic ferry crossings in late December and January.

Anyone who was on the following ferry crossings has been asked to immediately book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether they have symptoms,using the province'sself-assessment websiteorby contacting 811.

• Marine Atlantic crossings travelling onMV Blue Puttees from North Sydney, N.S., to Port-aux-Basques, N.L., and from Port-aux-Basques, N.L., to North Sydney, N.S., on the crossings pictured below.

Anyone exposed to the virus on this ferry may develop symptoms up to, and including, Jan. 30, 2021.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is required to self-isolate while awaiting tests results. If someone does not have symptoms, they are not required to isolate while waiting for test results.

A full list of active exposure notices in Nova Scotia can be found here.

There are now 23 known active cases in Nova Scotia.No one is in hospital with the virus.

"Thanks to the sacrifices of all Nova Scotians, we are managing to control the spread of the virus," Premier Stephen McNeil said in the news release."We can be proud of our efforts, but we cannot become complacent. We need to continue following all the public health protocols."

Nova Scotia Healthlabs completed 1,685 tests on Tuesday.

On Tuesday,theoutbreak at Eden Valley Poultry inBerwick, N.S., was declaredover as of Monday. The plant had to shut down in Decemberafter a handful of workers tested positive for the virus.

Nova Scotia has administered9,175 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to health-care workers and long-term care residents, staff and caregivers as of Tuesday.Of those vaccinated, 2,507 have received a second dose.

CBC News is tracking vaccine administration across Canada.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported 21new cases on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the province reportedan additional death androlledthe Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton regions back to red phase restrictions, to join the Edmundston region. There are two people in hospital with the virus, one of whom is in intensive care.There are 317active cases.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported no new cases Wednesday and has five active cases. One person is in hospital with thevirus.
• P.E.I.reported two new cases on Tuesday, one related to travel. The other is a close contactof a previously reported case. The province had sevenactive cases.