Coronavirus update - July 17, 2020

coronavirus labelled test tube

Coronavirus update - July 17, 2020

The COVID-19 situation in Nova Scotia is changing rapidly. Check the links at the bottom for the latest updates.

Feeling overwhelmed or need to talk to someone?
It’s a stressful time to be practising medicine. Contact the Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) Professional Support Program at 902-468-8215 or 1-855-275-8215 (toll-free), or via email.

Doctors Nova Scotia will provide twice-weekly updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays unless significant news or issues warrant additional communication.

What’s new?

  • Today, no new cases were announced; keeping the total number of confirmed cases in Nova Scotia to 1,067.
    • There are two active cases and 1,002 resolved cases
    • The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Nova Scotia is 63
    • To date, Nova Scotia has had 59,124 negative test results
    • Some visitor restrictions in long-term care homes are being eased and non-medical masks will become mandatory on public transportation.
    • Effective July 22, the following changes can be implemented by long-term care facilities:
      • both indoor and outdoor visits will be allowed with limited numbers of visitors and scheduled appointments. Residents and visitors must wear masks and observe physical distancing, except for limited physical contact like a hug
      • residents and staff can gather in groups of 10 or less for dining, recreation or socializing without physical distancing. Groups should remain consistent and visitors cannot join
      • sightseeing bus trips for groups of up to 10 people (including residents, staff and driver) are allowed. Residents and staff cannot get off the bus and thorough cleaning before and after each trip is required
      • licensed hair salons within long-term care homes can reopen to serve residents only
    • Starting July 24, it will be mandatory for drivers and passengers to wear a non-medical mask on public transportation. Children under two and people with a valid medical reason for not wearing a mask are exempt. Passengers are asked to use their own masks as much as possible. Government will help public transportation services with supplies of masks for people who can’t bring their own. Public transportation includes; municipal transit buses and ferries, school buses, community transit vehicles, private taxis and shuttles
    • Workers are exempted from self-isolation when travelling outside the Atlantic bubble but only when performing their work duties. Workers include; Canada Armed Forces, RCMP/police, fire service, EHS, people involved in the movement of product and people across the border. Exemptions can be made for other reasons, but requests must be made via public health, such as family to attend loved ones in their last hours of life and also companies with specialist needs with nobody in the area to perform that task
    • Effective Tuesday, July 21, patients and visitors will be required to wear non-medical masks when entering hospitals and health care facilities
    • Nova Scotia will receive more than a quarter of a billion dollars under the $19-billion federal-provincial-territorial Safe Restart Agreement announced on July 16
  • Nationally, there are 109,264 total cases, 8,827 deaths and 3,387,755 Canadians tested for COVID-19.
    • On July 8, new federal modelling indicates progress has been made but hot spots and localized outbreaks require attention
    • Canada’s effective reproduction number (Rt) has recently risen >1 due to localized outbreaks

Webinars
Doctors Nova Scotia-hosted webinars and physician support sessions via Zoom have ended for the time being.

Choosing Wisely Canada is offering a webinar on July 29 from noon-1p.m. (EST): Pandemic pregnancy: Safety considerations for prenatal visits during COVID-19 with Dr. Tali Bogler.  Learn more

DNS webinar recordings
Check out recordings of previous webinars on the DNS COVID-19 info hub.

Reminders

Requests for personal protective equipment
The Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) is providing community-based physicians and their staff with personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost for the next 90 days. Click here to submit a request to DHW for PPE. Your organization will be notified by email of the approved supply and instructions for online ordering. For more information, email PPErequest@novascotia.ca.

Income stabilization program ended
The income stability program (ISP) ended on July 13. Shadow bill for services provided through to end of day July 13. Bill services provided on or after July 14 fee-for-service (FFS). The July 29 payment will include a prorated ISP payment and FFS billings from July 14-23. Questions? Email Jessica Moore.

Navigating work exemption requests during COVID-19
Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) has created a new guide to help family physicians respond to work exemption requests. During the COVID-19 pandemic, family physicians may experience higher volumes of patients requesting documentation and/or health assessments required by their employers exempting them from work.

Expanded hours for central zone blood collection appointments
Effective July 16, the central zone blood collection booking hours have expanded to help respond to the high volume of calls for booked appointments. The new hours are weekdays (excluding holidays) from 7a.m.-11p.m. and on Saturdays from 7a.m.-3p.m. by calling 902-473-2074 or 1-833-942-2298. Patients who require urgent collection must communicate this when booking.

NEW Addictions Medicine Consult Service
Nova Scotia Health’s Addictions Medicine Consult Service provides rapid addictions medicine consultant advice. Consultants Drs. Leah Genge, Dave Martell and Tiffany O’Donnell offer advice on diagnosing and managing substance use disorders, and medications related to substance use. The service is available weekdays 8:30a.m.-4:30 p.m. by calling 1-855-970-0234. Learn more FAQ or information card

Course: A Practical Approach to Teaching During COVID
This course is part of a series designed to support Dalhousie medical faculty in their roles as teachers. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: identify strategies to improve online learning experiences, including lecturing, grand rounds and small group learning sessions; and to effectively provide clinical teaching and supervision in altered clinical circumstances (including virtual care). When: July 20-Aug. 31, 2020 | Webinar dates: July 23, 30 and Aug. 6 and 13 (8-9 p.m.) Learn more

CMA Wellness Support Line
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has launched a Wellness Support Line. The line is linked with the DNS Professional Support Program (PSP) and is available 24-7 to offer all physicians, learners and their families with enhanced support, such as crisis counselling and risk assessment. Call the PSP at 902-468-8215 or 1-855-275-8215 (toll-free).

DNS staff, meetings and events
All DNS meetings and events are cancelled or have moved to a virtual meeting. You may reach staff by email or by calling 902-468-1866 or toll free at 1-800-563-3427.

Resources

Note: See the DNS COVID-19 hub for a complete list of COVID-19 resources.

Information hubs to watch