It was a flurry of cancellations – and some confirmations – on Thursday as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.
The virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday.
First things first: there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia as of Friday morning, March 13, 2020.
The province says the public will be informed if a case is confirmed.
One government department is taking proactive measures after potential exposure to an individual with the virus.
The Department of Energy and Mines announced on Thursday that a number of their staff are working from home after coming into contact with a person with COVID-19.
The Department says eight of their staff attended the Prospectors & Developers Association Convention in Toronto last week.
Event organizers have since announced that an Ontario man who was in attendance on March 2 and 3 has since tested positive for the respiratory virus.
Health Officials are now advising anyone else who attended the event to monitor their health closely over the next 14 days.
The Department of Energy did not respond when asked if the staff in question were being tested.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan were also in attendance at the event.
O’Regan has since gone into self-isolation and is awaiting test results.
Meantime, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is following the advice of doctors and staying in isolation for 14 days after his wife Sophie tested positive for COVID-19.
Sophie Trudeau is currently under quarantine.
I have some additional news to share this evening. Unfortunately, the results of Sophie’s COVID-19 test are positive. Therefore, she will be in quarantine for the time being. Her symptoms remain mild and she is taking care of herself and following the advice of our doctor.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 13, 2020
Amidst the pandemic, the provincial NDP are pushing for paid sick days again.
They previously worked on legislation that would mandate half a sick day per month with the maximum set at seven, but the bill was tabled.
Premier Stephen Macneil and Conservative leader Tim Houston both expressed that they prefer to leave it up to businesses who can negotiate terms with employees or unions.
NDP Leader Gary Burill says not everyone has a union or is in a position of leverage to demand paid sick leaves.
“If we had paid sick days as they have in lots of lots of countries around the world so that it wasn’t just people who are in a union or have a union contract who got paid sick days but everybody as a condition of employment in the province.
Burill also called for legislation that would prevent employers from being able to request a sick note on days they take off as he feels it burdens the health care system.
In New Brunswick, the province’s top doctor is asking people to practice “social distancing” during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Chief medical health officer Dr. Jennifer Russell says that means staying two metres away from other people.
“This is something that is not a concept that we’re used to,” she explained. “We’re used to being able to give people hugs and kisses and also able to give high-fives, fist bumps, all those kind of things.”
Russell recommends all non-essential mass gatherings of 150 or more people be cancelled or postponed for now to reduce infection risks.
The Horizon Health Network announced Thursday that anyone who’s travelled outside of Canada will not be allowed to visit any patients in their facilities for 14 days after they return.
In Ontario, public schools are being ordered closed for the next three weeks because of the coronavirus scare.
The government says based on the advice of the province’s Medical Officer of Health, schools will be closed an extra two weeks following next week’s March Break.
Schools will reopen April 5th.
In Alberta, the government says it’s adopting aggressive new public health measures to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.
Alberta is asking organizers to cancel any events that have more than 250 attendees.
This includes large sporting events, conferences and community events. It does not extend to places of worship, grocery stores, airports or shopping centres.
Concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak have prompted officials with a wide variety of organizations to cancel events.
This weekend’s Juno Awards in Saskatoon is cancelled, with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences saying they’re exploring options to coordinate an alternative way to honour this year’s award winners.
As reported Thursday, virtually all sports leagues have postponed their seasons, including the Maritime Hockey League.
The league has unanimously agreed to suspend the start of the Canadian Tire Cup Playoffs until further notice.
The NHL and QMJHL have also postponed the rest of their seasons.
NHL officials note since there is an NBA player that tested positive for coronavirius and given that the two leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms, it seems that they could come in contact with the virus at some time.
Major League Baseball is delaying the start of Opening Day by at least two weeks as well as suspending the rest of spring training.
(With files from Vic Krasowski, Evan Taylor, and Brad Perry)
