Thread by @RhondaBrown5

Update now with @StephenMcNeil and @StrangRobert One new case of COVID-19 in #NS now. McNeil says he's concerned about how quickly cases are creeping up. Says people are quarantining at households. That ends today. Must now quarantine for 14 days alone

If you can't isolate alone, the entire household must isolate. No exceptions.

Mobile testing unit being deployed to Clayton Park to identify virus and prevent further spread. Cluster of cases in that area.

McNeil says he's asking public health officials to look at the situation with rotational workers, which might include isolation and testing on day 5. Notes that other provinces thought they were doing well, but now have hundreds of cases. Says we need to crack down quickly.

Now Dr. Strang. Says there have been 15 new cases since the last update on November 3. The two clusters he addressed last week are contained. The latest cases are a cluster in the Clayton Park area of #Halifax but there have been potential exposures throughout the city.

Says if they are unsure if they found all contacts, they send out public health notices so that all those who may have been in contact with a potential positive case are aware.

Three locations of concern: Bitter End on Nov 2 between 9 and close; Montana’s in Bayers Lake Oct 25 from 6 to close and All Nations Full Gospel Church ( at Saint Andrew's United Church) on Oct. 25.

Ask that anyone who gets a call from public health during contact tracing be honest about where they've been and who they've been with. Notes that has been an issue lately. Say they're not judging - just trying to stop further spread.

#NS has been lucky to have low or no cases of #COVID19 Says we are at a critical tipping point and we need to sit up and pay attention. Must make changes to change the trajectory for the province.

Strang going over the rules for isolation - if you come in from outside of the Atlantic bubble, isolate for 14 days alone. If you can't, then everyone in the household must isolate together for 14 days - no school, no shopping, etc.

This does not apply to already granted exemptions - truckers, rotational workers, etc. But some of those rules may be tightened up.

Public health team actively discussing where they need to go next if it becomes necessary to further tighten restrictions. Says every Nova Scotian should step up health measures - stay home if you feel sick (one symptomatic person went out, which is a concern).

Wash your hands, wear a mask in indoor public places (a proper non-medical mask covering nose and mouth). Restrict social activities to people in your household or close bubble (no more than ten). Have only ONE social bubble and be careful of number of people you interact with.

Strang says he's hearing stories about people travelling out of Atlantic Canada, and non-essential travel. Reminds all that we're in a pandemic - non-essential travel outside of Atlantic Canada needs to stop. Even over the holiday season.

Strang says there are no plans to lock down province again, unless it's absolutely necessary. Will be more targeted in the future - by geography, etc. Still in a good place, but fate is in our collective hands. Other provinces have record cases. We can still avoid that.

Hearing stories about families going shopping together, not wearing masks. Need to do what's necessary to keep each other safe.

Time for questions. Any consideration of changing school situation in Clayton Park? So far, cases are not school aged. There are potential implications for schools, and need to be prepared in coming days or week or so, may be need to enhance restrictions or go to blended model.

Next few days as we get results from this cluster and contacts will tell us what happens next. Can't say there is broad community spread yet, but can't rule it out either. Putting schools on notice.

What lead time might parents get? Have an established comms protocol for staff, students, teachers in schools. Have rapid communication to school community. We have NOT had exposure in schools yet. Won't spring move to blended model on parents. Will be quick if there is pos case

Why did NSHA ask any employees who went to Bitter End on Nov 2 to NOT report to work? That was their occupational health and safety decision, says Dr. Strang. All three locations identified have circumstances that make spread more of a concern.

Should we fine people breaking rules? Looking at strengthening approach to self-check in for those coming into Atlantic bubble. McNeil says they've had police check in on people who they're hearing are here from outside of the bubble.

How many people being tested related to Clayton Park cluster? 9 cases are related so far, but more investigation underway says Dr. Strang. Complex interaction between cases still being investigation. Trying to identify how cluster started and how it spread.

We need to do more work on where they may have been, who they may have been exposed to. McNeil thanks businesses who take names of patrons who attend - says it makes it easier to track. Every time someone is added to list, the search grows exponentially.

How was it that household members could come and go if someone was self-isolating? Strang says the risk of them having COVID was low enough that household members could continue daily activities. Now there's enough increased risk that it's reasonable to apply quarantine on all.

Strang: We've had community exposures, but what we see in Clayton Park are groups that are socially connected. General community spread is less connected, but not ready to rule it out. This is detective work, and have more work to do before we make firmer conclusions.

Strang: We will continue contact tracing as long as possible. Have funding to fill up to an additional 100 positions. Also talking to federal government about surge capacity programs they offer. Actively building capacity knowing the ability to maintain tracing fundamentally impt

Has the second wave arrived? Strang: Don't believe it has. Seeing more of the impact of a second wave elsewhere thru more people travelling here with COVID cases. Even if it gets here, will work hard to avoid large surges in other parts of the country.

What do next steps look like? Look at what we slowly lifted in wave 1 - now have full capacity with distancing, larger groups for sports, theatre, arts without distancing. Things we opened up over last few months would be areas we'd target for closing/restricting again.

That's why we're reminding Nova Scotians to start limiting social activities. Stick with the same group of 10 people, limiting exposure in risk environments. Need to make sure we're following rules first, then look at tightening.

Strang: Can't stop university kids from going home for the holidays, but can make sure they adhere to strict 14-day quarantine. I get it, a child going home might be essential. But for those from here, you should stay put and not visit relatives outside.

McNeil closing thoughts: Take precautions against possibility of community spread. Ask yourself if you're protecting people around you. Continue to follow public health protocols. "Start caring about what really matters: each other."