Gradual lifting of Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 restrictions starts Monday

By Meghan Groff

Nova Scotia will be gradually lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

At a Wednesday briefing, Premier Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced a three phase approach.

Each phase is expected to last about a month, depending on epidemiology, hospitalizations, case activity in long-term care facilities and employee absenteeism.

The first starts Monday and includes the informal gathering limit being increased to 25 people, the lifting of all border restrictions for domestic travellers and an increase in capacity for businesses. (see full details below)

Strang said we have to accept that we will see ongoing spread of the virus as restrictions ease but he's confident it's time to start the shift towards living with COVID.

“While part of me would love to say 'we're done with COVID' and throw the doors of our province wide open, it's my job to weigh the risks and benefits, and recommend an approach that continues to protect the most vulnerable, and our health care system in least restrictive way possible,” he explained.

“I also know that easing restrictions will cause some anxiety, that's understandable. Certainly COVID and this latest Omicron wave has not been easy,” he added. “We have lost 55 Nova Scotians since December 8, which is the start of the Omicron wave, and the physical and mental health of countless others has been impacted.”

However he said the situation would have been worse if not for our high vaccination and booster dose rates.

“While vaccine itself may not protect all infections, there is no doubt that it offers substantive protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death,” he explained. 

Phase 2 will see a further increase of gathering and capacity limits. In Phase 3, gathering and capacity limits will be eliminated, along with physical distancing requirements.

“For now, masks are still required in indoor public places and proof of vaccination is still necessary for discretionary activities,” Strang stated. “We will let our evolving epidemiology guide us on when we can change these two components.”

As of 12:01 a.m. Monday:

Border Restrictions

  • all border restrictions for domestic travellers entering Nova Scotia will be lifted; there will be no isolation requirements or Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form
  • international travellers will continue to follow federal rules.

Gathering Limits

  • the informal gathering limit indoors and outdoors will be 25 people from the same household or close social group; physical distance and proof of full vaccination are not required; masks are not required except in indoor public places
  • the formal gathering limit for gatherings and events hosted by a recognized business or organization will be 50 per cent of capacity indoors and outdoors
  • examples of formal gatherings include festivals, special events, social gatherings, regular faith services, wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and associated visitation, receptions, meetings, training, and spectators at sports events, performances and movie theatres.

Sports, Arts and Culture

  • professional and amateur sports participants (like players, coaches and referees) and arts and culture participants (like actors, performers and directors) are limited to 60 indoors and outdoors
  • they can have practices, training, regular league games, rehearsals and performances; tournaments are not allowed
  • physical distance is not required; masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors
  • spectators are allowed following the formal gathering limit.

Faith Services, Weddings and Funerals

  • regular faith services, weddings, funerals and associated receptions and visitation hosted by a recognized business or organization follow the formal gathering limit
  • performers follow limits for arts and culture participants and masks are recommended for choirs; congregational singing is allowed, but masks are required
  • proof of full vaccination remains in place for weddings, funerals and associated receptions and visitation
  • there is an exception – funerals with up to 25 people without proof of full vaccination are permitted, but masks and physical distance are required.

Fitness, Recreation and Leisure

  • fitness, recreation and leisure businesses and organizations can operate at 75 per cent capacity
  • these limits apply to fitness facilities like gyms, yoga studios, pools and arenas; to recreation and leisure activities like dance and music lessons, indoor play places, arcades, shooting ranges, dog training; and to museums and libraries
  • personal training is allowed with as much physical distance as possible
  • day camps and before and after school programs can operate with groups of up to 30 campers, staff and volunteers.

Businesses

  • retail businesses and malls can operate at the maximum capacity possible with physical distance and masks
  • personal services like hair salons can resume offering services that require removing masks; they can already operate at the maximum capacity possible with physical distance
  • food establishments and liquor-licensed establishments can operate at 75 per cent capacity; they must have physical distance between tables and there is a limit of 25 people per table; they must stop dine-in service by midnight and close by 1 a.m.; takeout, drive-thru and delivery can operate later; performers follow the limits for arts and culture participants.

Education

  • enhanced public measures, such as classroom cohorts and not allowing non-essential visitors, will remain in effect in all schools
  • singing and use of wind instruments can resume
  • schools will follow the community guidelines on sports, arts and culture, but spectators will only be permitted after school hours.

Long-Term Care

  • residents can have any two visitors at a time – they no longer need to be the same two visitors
  • visitors must still wear masks and be fully vaccinated, except for end-of-life visits
  • even if they are fully vaccinated, residents can only leave the facility for medical appointments or for a drive in a facility or visitor's vehicle with no stops and no contact with other people outside the facility
  • only residents who are eligible and have had a booster dose can access service providers for recreational activities and personal services like hairstyling
  • facilities may continue to have residents in consistent groups for dining and activities.

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