N.S. reports 4 new COVID-19 cases, Phase 2 begins today

The province reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday – the lowest single-day increase the province has seen in two months.  Three are in the province’s Central zone and are close contacts to previously reported cases. One case is in the Eastern zone and is related to travel.  Two additional school cases in the Central Zone were announced, but they were not included in Tuesday’s count because they were not confirmed in time for the cutoff and will be included in today’s totals.  Twenty-nine previously reported cases in Nova Scotia are now considered resolved, with the total number of active cases dropping to 97, the fewest active cases in the province since April 21.

Nova Scotia will officially begin Phase 2 of its reopening plan at 8am today-Wednesday, which includes larger social gatherings, a return to indoor dining, and reopening of gyms. A full list of Phase 2 details can be found further down the page and on the government’s website.

Asymptomatic testing continues to be one of the main tools that helps limit the spread of COVID-19 and there are new testing options opening up.  New temporary testing locations are being opened up in Tatamagouche and Pugwash.  In Tatamagouche it’s at Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, starting Friday, operating every second week until the end of August; from 9am to 5pm with dates to be determined each week. It’s by appointment only with no walk-in service.  For Pugwash, it’s at North Cumberland Memorial Hospital, starting next Tuesday, operating  every second week until the end of August from 9am to 5pm, with dates to be determined each week.  It’s also by appointment only.

 

Premiers announce regional travel to resume in much of Atlantic Canada June 23

Three out of four Atlantic provinces announced on Tuesday they will lift border restrictions and open to travel from across the region beginning next week.  Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador say the June 23 reopening is possible because of steadily declining COVID-19 rates across the region, and New Brunswick is expected to announce its position later today.  The move means travellers won’t have to isolate for 14 days upon entering each province.  Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin says his province is also currently on track to open to the rest of the country no later than July 14.  Rankin says discussions are continuing with the other Atlantic premiers on co-ordinating an opening to the rest of Canada.  In a news release, he says lower case numbers across the region signal that “reopening to our neighbours is the right step.”

In Prince Edward Island, Premier Dennis King said residents of the other Atlantic provinces as well as the Iles-de-la-Madeleine who have received one shot of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to enter the province without having to self-isolate. The measure will begin with a “soft launch” June 23 for those entering under currently approved travel streams before broadening on June 27.  For other Canadians, visitors can enter without isolating as of July 28, provided they have received two shots of vaccine, he told reporters. The province is setting up a P.E.I. Pass system to allow travellers to establish their vaccination status ahead of arrival.  Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said residents of Atlantic Canada would be welcome in his province as of 12:01 a.m. June 23, without a requirement for testing and self-isolation.  In a news release today, Furey said the reopening would benefit local business, reunite family and friends and bring people “closer to a more normal sense of life that we can all appreciate.”

 

Details of Canada-U.S. border reopening expected soon

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is signalling that Canadians can expect an announcement by Monday on the easing of pandemic travel restrictions.  But he warns the relaxed rules won’t necessarily go into effect immediately.  He stresses that the restrictions will be phased out slowly and cautiously, and only so long as vaccination rates continue to climb and the number of COVID-19 cases in Canada continues to decline.  The government has been deciding on a monthly basis whether to renew the restrictions, with the current orders-in-council due to expire Monday.  It has already said it will relax quarantine protocols in early July for fully vaccinated citizens who are eligible to return to Canada.  Business groups have been pressuring the government to ease up on travel restrictions, particularly at the Canada-U-S border.  The hard-hit tourism, hospitality and airlines sectors in particular are hoping for relaxed rules that will allow some resumption of tourist travel. (The Canadian Press)

 

Joe MacDonald wins Pictou East Liberal nomination

Barney’s River Fire Chief Joe MacDonald won the Pictou East Liberal nomination this week, defeating Pictou Landing First Nation Chief Andrea Paul in a close vote.  Due to COVID-19, the nomination process was conducted virtually.  The seat in Pictou East is currently held by Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston.  Nova Scotia does not have a fixed date election cycle, but the current Liberal mandate runs out in May 2022, meaning an election is almost certain to happen this year.

 

Nova Scotia announces $18.2 million tourism restart package

An $18.2 million tourism restart package announced by the Nova Scotia government on Tuesday will provide operators with new grant programs and marketing support.  It will also offer tourists more outdoor public attractions and free admission to provincial museums.

 

Phase 2 of N.S. COVID-19 reopening plan:

Businesses and services
Personal and wellness services	Personal services businesses (like hair salons, barber shops, spas, nail salons and body art establishments) can offer all services by appointment (no walk-in service), including services that require a client to remove their mask. They also need to follow their sector-specific plan.
Restaurants, bars and casinos	Casino Nova Scotia (Halifax and Sydney) and video lottery terminals (VLTs) can operate at 50% capacity and need to follow public health measures like social distancing and masks. They can only serve food and alcohol until 11pm and must close by 12am. Liquor licensed (drinking) establishments (like bars, wineries, distillery tasting rooms and craft taprooms) can offer indoor and outdoor dining with a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) between people at different tables. There is a maximum of 10 people (close social group of 10) per table. Wearing a mask is required (except when you’re eating or drinking). Liquor licensed (drinking) establishments can only serve dine-in customers until 11pm and must close by 12am. They can continue to offer take-out, delivery and drive-thru service after 12am. Live music is permitted indoors and outdoors at restaurants and liquor licensed (drinking) establishments (like bars, wineries, distillery tasting rooms and craft taprooms) with 1 performer following the Guidelines for Musicians (PDF). Restaurants can offer indoor and outdoor dining with a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) between people at different tables. There is a maximum of 10 people (close social group of 10) per table. Wearing a mask is required (except when you’re eating or drinking). Restaurants can only serve dine-in customers until 11pm and must close by 12am. They can continue to offer take-out, delivery and drive-thru service after 12am.
Retail and shopping	All retail stores can operate at 50% of the store’s capacity (shoppers and staff) and need to follow the Health Protection Act Order, including public health measures like social distancing and masks. Households can have more than 1 designated shopper (no limit on the number of shoppers per household).

Continuing care
Adult day programs	Community-based adult day programs for seniors and people with disabilities can resume and need to follow public health guidelines for their sector.
Long-term care facilities	Long-term care residents can go for a walk off facility grounds and go through a drive-thru when going for a drive with a designated caregiver. Vaccinated residents can also leave the facility to visit outdoor public places (like parks). Recreational activities and personal services like hairstyling can resume within the facility for long-term care residents who are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated. Long-term care residents don’t need to be in the same groups for dining and group activities. Volunteers can resume their activities at long-term care facilities.

Gatherings and social contacts
Festivals, special events and arts and culture events	Festivals, special events and arts and culture events (like performances) – 25% of the venue’s capacity up to 50 people indoors and up to 75 people outdoors with social distancing when hosted by a business or organization. Organizers must have a COVID-19 Prevention Plan (plans will be reviewed by Government of Nova Scotia for large venues).
Indoor and outdoor social gatherings	Informal social gathering limit indoors is up to 10 people (household members and visitors) without social distancing and masks. Informal social gathering limit outdoors is up to 25 people without social distancing.
Meetings	Meetings and training (indoor and outdoor) – 25% of the venue’s capacity up to 50 people indoors and up to 75 people outdoors when meetings and training are hosted by a business or organization, including: provincial and municipal government private businesses and organizations first responder organizations (emergency first responders are exempt from social distancing when necessary) mental health and addictions support groups organized clubs
Sports and performing arts	Amateur performing arts rehearsals and virtual or in-person performances can have up to 10 people indoors and up to 25 people outdoors without social distancing. Masks are recommended when you can’t maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others. Professional performing arts rehearsals and virtual or in-person performances can have up to 15 people indoors and up to 25 people outdoors without social distancing. Wearing a mask is required indoors when you can’t maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others (except during activities that are not possible while wearing a mask). Masks are recommended outdoors when you can’t maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others. Sports – Players, participants and officials in organized sports (recreational, amateur and professional) can practice and train with up to 10 people indoors and up to 25 people outdoors without social distancing. Masks are recommended when you can’t maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others. Sport games, competitions and tournaments are not permitted. Sports and performing arts spectators – Spectators are permitted (indoor and outdoor) for sports and performing arts hosted by a business or organization that have an Event Plan. Spectators are included in the event gathering limits and need to follow social distancing guidelines. Virtual events are permitted with a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors and need to follow their COVID-19 Prevention Plan.
Weddings, funerals and faith gatherings	Drive-in faith services have no limit on the number of vehicles. You need to follow the informal indoor social gathering limit in your vehicle. Faith gatherings hosted by a business or organization – 25% of the venue’s capacity up to 50 people indoors or 75 people outdoors with social distancing. Informal faith gatherings can have up to 10 people plus the person conducting the ceremony indoors and up to 25 people plus the person conducting the ceremony outdoors without social distancing. Informal wedding ceremonies and funerals (including receptions and visitation) can have up to 10 people plus the person conducting the ceremony indoors and up to 25 people plus the person conducting the ceremony outdoors without social distancing. Wedding ceremonies and funerals (including receptions and visitation) hosted by a business or organization – 25% of the venue’s capacity up to 50 people indoors or 75 people outdoors with social distancing.

Recreation activities
Bingo, cards, darts and pool	Activities like bingo, cards, darts and pool hosted by licensed and unlicensed establishments (like community centres, clubs and charities) can resume and need to follow Guidelines for Games and Activities in Licensed Establishments (PDF).
Fitness and recreation	Businesses and organizations offering a wide variety of indoor recreation and leisure activities (like climbing facilities, dance classes, escape rooms, indoor arcades, indoor play spaces and music lessons) can operate at 25% capacity. Day camps (indoor and outdoor) can operate with up to 15 people (including staff and volunteers) in each individual camp group without social distancing and need to follow COVID-19 Return to Day Camp Guidelines (PDF). Fitness establishments (like gyms and yoga studios) and sport and recreation facilities (like pools, arenas, tennis courts and large multipurpose recreation facilities) can operate at 50% capacity.
Museums and libraries	Museums, libraries and Art Gallery Nova Scotia can operate at 25% capacity and need to follow public health measures like social distancing and masks.
Theatres	Drive-in movie theatres can operate with no limit on the number of vehicles. You need to follow the informal indoor social gathering limit in your vehicle.

Travel
Travel to Nova Scotia	People from outside Nova Scotia can request a compassionate exception to enter Nova Scotia to attend a funeral or service (like a burial or celebration of life) for an immediate family member. Seasonal property owners and people moving to Nova Scotia permanently can apply to travel to Nova Scotia by completing the Safe Check-in Form and must self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive in Nova Scotia.
Travel within Atlantic Canada	Starting 23 June 2021, if you live in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) you can enter Nova Scotia and don’t need to self-isolate when you travel to or return to Nova Scotia. If you live outside Atlantic Canada and have already self-isolated in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador, you can enter Nova Scotia without self-isolating again.
Travel within Nova Scotia	No restriction on travel within Nova Scotia. Travel is permitted within Nova Scotia (you can travel outside your community).