Coronavirus update - April 21, 2020

coronavirus labelled test tube

Coronavirus update - April 21, 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?
Contact the Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) Professional Support Program at 902-468-8215 or 1-855-275-8215 (toll-free), via email or join a Zoom meeting—see details below under webinars.

 

What's new?

The state of emergency in Nova Scotia has been extended until noon on May 3, 2020.

  • Today, 16 new cases of COVID-19 were announced, bringing the total in Nova Scotia to 737.
    • The province’s tenth death was announced: a resident in the Northwood facility in Halifax
    • An emergency plan has been launched to support Northwood, which includes moving recovered patients offsite, adding staff from across the province and testing/treating residents at the facility
    • Eleven individuals are in hospital (three in ICU) and 286 have recovered
    • To date, Nova Scotia has had 22,190 negative test results
    • As of April 20, there were 10 licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors’ facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19, involving 128 residents and 62 staff
    • Provincial modelling to June 30, 2020: with good compliance, cases are estimated to be 1,453 (with 35 hospitalizations at peak). With poor compliance, cases could be closer to 6,269 (with 85 hospitalizations at peak). Current measures have reduced cases by about 50%
  • Nationally, there are 37,382 cases (37,374 confirmed) and 1,728 deaths from COVID-19 
    • National modelling predicts that with strong controls, Canada could see 934,000–1.9 million or more cases, 22,000 deaths and 23,000–46,000 ICU admissions. The picture is bleaker if public health measures are not followed.

Online book of condolences for victims
An online book of condolences honouring those who lost their lives this past weekend is now available. To offer condolences, visit https://novascotia.ca/condolences.

Medical students advocate for emergency child care for essential workers during COVID-19
Dalhousie Students for Health-care Providers (DSHP) has written a letter of support for a provincial child-care strategy for essential workers. Only Nova Scotia and Nunavut are without a strategy. The DSHP seeks your support. Please read the letter and fill out the signature section.

REMINDER PLI and SPL activities cancelled
The DNS Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) and the Section of Physician Leader (SPL) activities scheduled for April and May have been cancelled. 

CMAF pledges $20 million for COVID-19 efforts
The Canadian Medical Association Foundation (CMAF) has committed $20 million to support urgent COVID-19 related needs within the health-care system. This includes innovation in family medicine, front-line hospitals and COVID-19 crisis response efforts by physicians and health-care workers, and funds to address financial hardships experienced by medical students and residents. Learn more

Pallium offers more resources
Pallium Canada has released additional free online modules. These modules are self-directed and can be completed at your own pace. Topics include taking ownership, managing dyspnea, palliative sedation, last days and hours, delirium and palliative care for COVID-19 illness.

Free mental health support for all
The federal government launched Wellness Together Canada to provide mental health and substance use support to all Canadians suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus crisis. The service is available 24 hours a day and includes free telephone and video counselling sessions. Learn more at www.wellnesstogether.ca or call 1-866-585-0445.

Webinars

TONIGHT! Critical Thinking in the Time of COVID-19

Join Drs. Pat Croskerry, director of critical thinking program at Dalhousie Medical School, and Sam Campbell, emergency medicine, for this two-hour CPD-accredited webinar to learn how COVID-19 can affect your ability to think critically. When: Tuesday, April 21 at 7–9 p.m. REGISTER HERE

Daily Zoom meetings: Coping with COVID-19
Join Drs. Jaqueline Kinley and John Chiasson for daily online meetings (via Zoom) to chat about coping strategies and mental health concerns. Meetings are now held daily (Monday–Friday) from noon to 1 p.m. and are open to all physicians. Click here for the Zoom meeting link Password is 975004

Special Zoom session: Wednesday, April 22 at 4–5 p.m. – Dr. J. Sadek on checking your stress level: How do you know and what to do? Click here for the Zoom meeting link. Password is 050891

Webinar recordings
Watch the April 16 webinar (Understanding physician income stability in Nova Scotia) and check out all the previous webinars on the DNS COVID-19 hub.

Reminders

Care during COVID-19: Tips for managing physician clinics during coronavirus
Doctors Nova Scotia has created a tool kit of helpful advice from physicians across the province and other provincial/territorial medical associations.

New CMA resources
The CMA has a range of resources available for physicians to help manage clinical care, provide psychological first aid and support their own resiliency. The association has also launched covidkindness.ca to share positive stories from the front line.

Zoom for Healthcare privacy and security response
Our partners are working together to provide a secure online environment. Enhanced security features already in Zoom for Healthcare include having a meeting ID and password created for each meeting, so only the health-care provider and designated patient can join the meeting. If you have any questions, visit https://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/telehealth-zoom or email VirtualCare@nshealth.ca. 

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.

Reference materials, resources, posters, public education and PPE

Information hubs to watch