COVID-19 CASE COUNT IN CANADA CLIMBS PAST 60 OVER THE WEEKEND – SO FAR NO CASES REPORTED IN N.S.
In this illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). THE CANADIAN PRESS/CDC via AP, File
In Canada over the weekend, the COVID-19 case count climbed past 60, with 32 diagnoses in Ontario, 27 in B.C, two in Quebec and one in Alberta. Several other cases are considered “presumptive” and have to be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.
Meanwhile, a coronavirus-infected cruise ship that’s been floating off the coast of California for days is set to dock in Oakland today, setting the stage for Ottawa to bring the 237 Canadians aboard the Grand Princess back home. Global Affairs Canada says it has chartered a plane to fly the stranded Canadians to the air force base in Trenton, Ontario, though it has yet to provide a timeline for when that will happen. There are 21 people diagnosed with COVID-19 aboard the Grand Princess, but there’s been no word on the nationalities of the patients. Several people in Canada who were on that earlier voyage have since tested positive for the illness. The government says those currently on the Grand Princess will be screened for symptoms before they board the plane to Canada. Symptomatic passengers will stay in the U-S for further assessment, while passengers without symptoms will be quarantined for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada. (The Canadian Press)
The Department of National Defence confirmed over the weekend that two Canadian Forces members at CFB Greenwood in Nova Scotia who reported not feeling well after recently being in Italy for military exercises have tested negative for coronavirus. The two members had been self-isolating at the base since Wednesday. They had been tested as a precaution. On Friday, the province’s chief medical officer said there are, so far, no cases of coronavirus in province, but added its arrival to the region is “quite probable.” (With files from CBC)
WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
The women’s world hockey championship in Halifax and Truro, has been cancelled due to concerns over the spreading coronavirus. The tournament had been scheduled to start on March 31. As a result, Team Germany will no longer be taking part in the practice games that had been scheduled for March 25th and 27th at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. According to Hockey Canada, Halifax and Truro will host the tournament next year. All tickets already sold will be honoured then. Anyone looking refunds can contact Hockey Canada.
Also over the weekend, Tim Hortons announced it was scapping plans for its upcoming Roll Up The Rim contest due to “the current public health environment”. Its removing all of the contest’s paper cups over health concerns around staff handling items recently gripped and sipped by customers returning them for prizes. The company says it will redistribute all $30 million worth of prizes to restaurant giveaways and a digital contest.
If you were in the Halifax over the weekend, you may have noticed a lot of police activity in the downtown area. A bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Dome on Argyle Street after midnight on Saturday, forcing 1,300 people into the streets — many of them without coats as the wind chill dipped to -12 C. Halifax police say the threat against the establishment was reported at 12:50 a.m. Municipal buses were brought in to provide temporary shelter for those who could not leave because they didn’t have access to money or keys to their homes. Police blocked all vehicle traffic and a police dog searched the bar for explosives around 3 a.m. No one was injured. Police are asking for the public’s help as they continue their investigation. (Canadian Press)
RENOWNED NOVA SCOTIAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PASSES AWAY
Beloved Nova Scotian folk singer/songwriter Laura Smith died of cancer at her home in Mahone Bay, over the weekend at the age of 67. Originally from southern Ontario, Smith lived and worked in Nova Scotia for 35 years. She released four studio albums. In 1995, she won the East Coast Music Award for Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. A tribute concert March 29 at Casino Nova Scotia will go ahead as planned. Tickets sold out within a day when it was announced. (With files from CBC)
LOCAL UNITED WAY LOOKING FOR DONATIONS ON TAMPON TUESDAY
The Pictou County United Way will be collecting menstrual hygiene products in many locations in the community tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) for what’s known as Tampon Tuesday. The local organization says the aim is to improve lives locally for women experiencing #PeriodPoverty. Menstrual hygiene products are one of the most requested, yet least donated items, at food banks. A number of businesses, organizations and the three local high schools are taking part.
Please look for donations boxes at the following locations:
New Glasgow • The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, 526 B East River Road • Shoppers Drug Mart, 912 East River Road • Sobeys Aberdeen Shopping Centre, 610 East River Road • Sobeys West Side Plaza, 8 George Street • United Way of Pictou County, 342 Stewart Street • YMCA of Pictou County, 2756 Westville Road Pictou • Pharmasave Pictou, 33 Water Street • Sobeys, 239 West River Road
Stellarton • Pharmacy First Ltd., 266 Foord Street • Pharmasave Medical Hall, 233 Foord Street • Poulain’s PharmaChoice, 277 South Street Trenton • Pharmasave Trenton, 138 Main Street
Westville • Foodland Westville, 1867 Main Street Employees of the following companies can donate at their workplaces: • Crombie REIT, Aberdeen Shopping Centre • Emera / Nova Scotia Power –
Trenton • Michelin, Granton • Sobeys Head Office, Foord Street, Stellarton
High Schools • North Nova Education Centre • Northumberland Regional High School, 104 Alma Road • Pictou Academy, 200 Louise Street, Pictou
SPORTS:
MHL:
Crushers finish the regular season with a 4-0 loss in Yarmouth. Next up is round one of the Canadian Tire Cup Playoffs vs Amherst. The first home game is one week today (March 16th) at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday.
At the Hockey Nova Scotia provincial championships this weekend at the Wellness Centre: In the Midget AA division, the Subway Selects won silver after being defeated by the Metro East Inferno 2-0. In the Bantam AA division, the Subway Selects lost to the Metro West Force Warriors 2-1. The provincial silver medalist Subway Selects will host Atlantics in April at the PCWC.
Northern Subway Selects Midget AAA Playoffs Game 2 @ PCWC yesterday the Selects defeated Station Six 5-0. Selects tie series 1-1 (Best of 5) Game 3 Friday Mar 13 8pm @ BMO Centre Bedford
Congrats to the Westville Miners Midget C team! They won gold at the championship held over the weekend in Pictou, defeating Canso 4-1 to take the cup.
The Bantam C New Glasgow Bombers took Gold this weekend!
They defeated Pictou 6-3 to win the PCMHA Challenge Cup.
A big Shout Out to the Pictou County Midget A boys and their coaches on capturing the Northern Conference title this past Sunday. They now advance to the Day of Champions on March 27th at the Rath Centre in Truro to play for the provincial title.
Shout out to the Atom C Stellarton Royals for winning the Challenge cup!
NHL
Carolina 6 Pittsburgh 2
Detroit 5 Tampa Bay 4 (SO)
Vegas 5 Calgary 3
St. Louis 2 Chicago 0
Minnesota 5 Anaheim 4 (OT)
Columbus 2 Vancouver 1
Colorado 4 San Jose 3
BASKETBALL NS PROVINCIALS: Basketball Nova Scotia U12 Provincials were held this past weekend and Pictou County Lightning U12 Boys Team MacKay won gold medals, U12 Boys Team DeMings won gold medals, and U12 Girls Team Fitt/Barnhill/MacGregor won bronze medals.
NBA
Toronto 118 Sacramento 113
Congrats to Ian Stewart of the Pictou County Mariners who won a silver medal in Mens 100m Backstroke at the David Fry Provincial Championships this past weekend. Seven AAA swimmers represented the Mariners at this meet, with 22 other teams from across Eastern Canada. Congrats to all swimmers for a very exciting and successful weekend!
MLB Pre-season
Toronto 9 Philadelphia 0
