The province has announced two new deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 12.
In a release, the government says two more residents of Halifax’s Northwood long-term care home passed away. In total, eight residents have passed away at the facility.
Premier Stephen McNeil says he is working closely with government partners to continue to implement an emergency plan to get the spread under control at the care home.
But, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says in a release that NSGEU nurses are reporting extreme concern for residents at the facility, stating the conditions were “horrible.”
“Our members are telling us it was like walking into a war zone,” said NSGEU President Jason MacLean in the release.
“They desperately want to help these seniors in their terrible time of need. But for the safety of those seniors and the staff, this has to be done correctly or things will continue to deteriorate.”
The release calls on the government to provide nurses working at Northwood access to N95 masks, increased Infection Control education for staff, the removal of humidifiers from residents’ rooms, deep-cleaning by housekeeping followed by daily cleanings, establish clean rooms for PPE and breaks, and appropriate disposal units for contaminated PPE.
As of Tuesday, there were 10 licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors’ facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19, involving 148 residents and 65 staff.
The province also announced 35 new COVID-19 cases across the province, bringing the total to 772. Premier McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health will hold a conference today at 3 pm.
