COVID19 Update – December 30
Millbrook has 30 cases of COVID19 with others waiting to hear if their PCR tests are positive. The number of positive cases will continue to grow for some time. Public Health is determining if there is community spread in Millbrook. Stay home if you do not need to go out. Wear a snug-fitting 3 layer cloth mask or properly fitted medical mask. If you have cold-like symptoms such as a sore or scratchy throat, runny nose, fever, cough or headache, take a rapid test. If you are a close contact of someone who has COVID19, take a rapid test. If you have been to an exposure site at the time of the exposure, take a rapid test. Rapid tests are available by contacting Millbrook Security.
If you get a positive rapid test result (2 lines), contact Chief Gloade or text Dr. Blois at 902-890-2779. Then book a confirmatory PCR test by calling 811 or go online at https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting. Isolate right away and notify your close contacts. Please notify Public Health of your positive rapid test by emailing PublicHealthPOCT@nshealth.ca including your name, date of birth, health card number and contact information as this helps us get an accurate count of positive cases in our community.
We can all do our part to prevent the further spread of COVID19 in our community. Limit your contacts to the same 10 people in your bubble. Stay home if you have tested positive with a rapid or PCR test. While isolating in your home, wear your mask properly, physical distance from others, eat and sleep in a separate room, keep your hands clean, and sanitize surfaces you touched in your shared bathroom, or use a separate bathroom. Monitor yourself for worsening symptoms. If you notice that you are having difficulty breathing, call 911. For more information about what to do if you test positive, go to https://www.nshealth.ca/testedpositiveforcovid.
How to interpret test results and when you no longer have to isolate -
A negative test is 1 negative PCR test result OR 2 negative rapid tests done at least 48 hours apart.
If you were in contact with a positive case and you had symptoms, you can stop isolating only after you have two negative rapid tests (e.g., 72 hours after exposure and 5 days after exposure).
Fully vaccinated contacts with no symptoms can stop isolating after a first negative rapid test (e.g., 72 hours after exposure), but you need to complete a 2nd rapid test at least 48 hours later (e.g., 5 days after exposure).
Isolating at a hotel – Do not leave your room if isolating at a hotel. Before you check in, call the hotel from your car so that they can prepare for your arrival. You are not allowed to eat breakfast in the hotel breakfast area (a breakfast bag will be delivered to you). For food delivery, ask the deliverer to stop at the front desk to let the hotel know that you are expecting a delivery.
COVID19 Testing Clinic – A COVID19 testing clinic will take place on January 3rd at the Millbrook Gymnasium from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. for band and community members. Rapid tests will be available there to take home. At the Dec 20th testing clinic, 134 people were tested, at the Dec 21st clinic, 86 were tested, and at the Dec 27th clinic, 84 people were tested. We need more people to go to these clinics to get tested.
Vaccine Clinic – A COVID19 vaccine clinic will take place at the health centre on January 12th for those aged 5 and above. Become fully vaccinated (2 doses) and get your booster dose (for those 18 and above). The vaccine is safe and once fully vaccinated, helps lower your chances of becoming hospitalized because of COVID19. The booster may reduce your ability to spread the virus if you have COVID19. The vaccine needs at least 14 days to become protective; it will not protect you right away, so the sooner you get your first, second, or booster dose, the better.
Millbrook Chief and Council