Tuesday marks two years since first presumptive cases of COVID-19 announced in N.S.

Preventative measures were immediately put in place that day

CityNews Halifax 

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Tuesday marks two years since the first three presumptive cases of COVID-19 were identified in Nova Scotia.

The announcement was made on Sunday, March 15, 2020, making our province the last in the country to have a positive diagnosis for the novel coronavirus.

None of the cases were connected and all three had recently travelled.

They were considered presumptive because at the time, positive results had to be sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for confirmation.

Preventative measures were immediately put in place that day, including extending March Break for students, barring visitors from long-term care facilities, closing casinos, requiring self-isolation for international travellers and physical distancing at restaurants, bars, movie theatres and other gathering spots.

A state of emergency would be declared one week later and since then, the province has reported nearly 50,000 cases and over 200 COVID-19 related deaths.

Over the last two years the province has gone through many changes, including three different premiers, remote learning and working, and the introduction and re-introduction of various COVID-19 restrictions.

As of March 8, 2022, 86.9 per cent of Nova Scotians are fully vaccinated, 5.3 per cent are partially vaccinated, and 7.8 per cent are unvaccinated while 62.9 per cent of Nova Scotians 18 and older have received a booster dose.

All COVID-19 restrictions and the state of emergency are set to be lifted on March 21.