Incoming travellers asked to fill out Nova Scotia Safe Check-in Form before arriving

Travel restrictions are easing and many are thinking about booking their first trip in over a year.

Fully immunized people from outside of Atlantic Canada can now come to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate.

That means two weeks following a second dose of COVID-19, friends and family living outside of our region can visit us and we can hop on a plane and go see them without having to quarantine upon return.

Testing is recommended but not required and they still need to fill out the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in Form, where proof of vaccination can be uploaded.

At a briefing earlier this week, the province's chief medical officer of health said there has been an increase in traffic at our land borders, on the PEI ferry and at the airport.

“I hope that means many of you got to see friends and family that you have been missing for a long time,” said Dr. Robert Strang.

“We are seeing some slowdowns at the border, particularly at the airports when people arriving from outside of Atlantic Canada don't have their safe check-in form completed in advance,” he added. “So please, if you're travelling from outside of Atlantic Canada, or you have family and friends coming to visit you, make sure the online form gets completed before anyone travels.”

Those coming from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador do not need to fill out the form and are not subject to any self-isolation requirements.

However, anyone coming from elsewhere who has not had a vaccine must self-isolate for a full 14 days. Those who have had one dose and who have received two negative tests can end their isolation after 7 days. The self-testing kit available at the Halifax airport counts as the first test.

“The way you isolate does not change simply because you're now partially vaccinated,” Strang explained. “You still need to isolate away from others, even if the person or people you're visiting are fully vaccinated.”

“If you have to share a washroom within a home, it needs to be frequently cleaned and disinfected.”

Nova Scotia has aligned its international travel policy with the federal government, which has recently relaxed its requirements for approved travellers, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

“Anyone allowed to enter the country will also be allowed to come to Nova Scotia as long as they follow the necessary federal quarantine requirements,” Strang said.

“The federal government no longer requires approved international travellers to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arriving in Canada. If fully vaccinated and arriving by air, they do not need to stay at a government authorized hotel. There are other mandatory federal requirements that travellers must meet, including pre and on-arrival testing.”

In addition to the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in Form, international travellers will also need to submit their information and upload their proof of vaccination into the federal government's ArriveCAN app or website.