Nova Scotia hit a new record number of COVID-19 cases in one day on Sunday, despite evidence that Canada’s two largest provinces were making fragile strides in the fight against the pandemic.
Nova Scotia reported 63 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number since the global pandemic broke out.
Most of the cases were found in the central zone of the province, which includes Halifax. Premier Iain Rankin last week put a month-long lockdown on the city and its surrounding communities.
Rankin took to Twitter on Sunday to urge residents to get tested for the virus.
“The more we test, the better we protect our families, communities (and provinces),” he wrote.
He also announced that the province would double fines for public health violations from $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 as he expressed his anger at a party that was broken up by Halifax police on Friday night .
“Why?” he asked. “Why would you endanger yourself? And worse, someone else? “
While the virus appeared to be gaining momentum in the east, the news was more positive at two of Canada’s largest COVID-19 hotspots.
New cases in Ontario were again below the 4,000 mark on Sunday after hitting record highs in mid-April.
The number of hospital stays also decreased by 151 in the last 24 hours, although the number of people in intensive care remained dangerously high, increasing by 18 over the same period. Numbers show that 851 of the 2,126 COVID-19 patients in the province are in intensive care.
Quebec, meanwhile, reported its fourth consecutive decline in hospital stays as the province’s seven-day average continued to decline slightly with reports of just over 1,000 new infections.
Health Minister Christian Dube said the situation in the province remains fragile, “but hope is on the horizon.”
“Let’s stick together for the coming weeks,” he wrote, noting that the province expects to open vaccination for the remaining adult population in late May.
Health officials in Manitoba reported a “trend to affect case numbers” in Chemawawin Cree Nation on the north shore of Cedar Lake.
The province said that in response, the First Nation chief and council have banned public gatherings and residents must stay at home except for work, medical care, or to get essential supplies.
The province reported 259 cases on Sunday but no deaths.
Saskatchewan reported two new deaths of people with COVID-19 and 249 new cases, while New Brunswick reported four new cases and Newfoundland and Labrador reported two cases.
Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement that the vaccine has already had positive effects on case numbers in a number of groups, including the elderly, healthcare workers and indigenous communities.
READ MORE: Future nurses and doctors want to learn lessons from the pandemic in order to create a better health system
The Canadian press
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Coronavirus
Get local stories you won’t find anywhere else straight to your inbox.
Login here
