Another employee at a long-term care home in Dartmouth has tested positive for COVID-19, pushing the number of workers at the centre who have been infected toward double-digits.
In a news release Friday, Admiral Long Term Care Centre said the employee had been at home in self-isolation following contact with someone who had tested positive, and they will remain in self-isolation.
“We appreciate the support we have received from the NS Department of Health and Wellness, NS Health Authority, and Public Health and we are continuing to take every step we can to keep our residents and staff safe,” Admiral said in a news release Friday.
READ MORE: 25 staff, residents in Nova Scotia long-term care homes test positive for coronavirus
There are now nine employees and two residents at Admiral Long Term Care Centre who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The long-term care home previously announced that all residents at the facility had been tested and were awaiting the results.
Dozens of staff and residents at long-term care homes in Nova Scotia have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement on its website Friday, Northwood Community Care said five more staff members have tested positive for the virus, for a total of nine. Five residents, two health services staff and three home-care workers have also tested positive.
Northwood has said all residents and staff who were potential contacts of the affected have been tested. Northwood has said at least 77 staff members have been tested this week.
Earlier this week, Ocean View Continuing Care Centre confirmed that one resident has tested positive. The long-term care home said an outbreak plan has been implemented in response, which involves cohorting impacted residents in one unit at the facility.
On Friday, Ocean View said a staff member has now tested positive.
As of last week, three staff members and two residents of The Magnolia in Enfield, N.S., have tested positive for COVID-19.
New directives have been put in place at long-term care homes across Nova Scotia.
Staff and residents must be screened at least once a day, or twice if they’re able. That includes recording staff members’ temperatures at the start of their shifts, as well as conducting a health screening.
New admissions to a facility will also require a health screening.
READ MORE: Long-term care directives announced as Nova Scotia nears 300 COVID-19 cases
The province announced 31 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the provincial total to 373.
There have been two coronavirus-related deaths in Nova Scotia. The first was a woman in her 70s, while the second was a woman in her 90s.
Both died at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and had underlying medical conditions.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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