List aims to help Nova Scotians find ‘COVID Safer’ places

As Nova Scotia deals with a surge of cases in its sixth wave of COVID-19, many continue to remain cautious when they socialize, shop and run errands, and information being compiled by a group of volunteers is helping.

The 'COVID Safer' list on the Test To Protect website– which cautions it's meant to be used as a guide — highlights some Nova Scotian businesses that continue to observe safety protocols.

The list was recently promoted by infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett on Twitter.

“It's really great to be able to go to places that either have reduced capacity hours, or the staff and the patrons are required to wear a mask,” she told CityNews Halifax last week.

The province lifted many public health protocols on March 21, including gathering limits, physical distancing and mandatory masking in most settings, however masks still need to be worn in Nova Scotia's schools and business owners have the right to continue requiring masks in their establishments.

Barrett believes that's a good idea right now.

“In particular in public places that people don't have a choice in going,” she added. “Schools are one of those, but public transit, grocery stores, social work, essential services, it makes no sense to me to not have masking there right now.”

She said Nova Scotians should assume we are surrounded by a “sea of virus.”

“Masks work best when they're well-fitted and also worn by the majority,” she explained. “So if you're in a place where two people have masks on indoors and everyone else doesn't, it's not a good protection.”

On Thursday, the province reported 14 COVID-19 deaths and 6,912 positive PCR tests for the six-day period ending April 11.

There were also 72 new hospital admissions.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, held a media availability, where he was asked if he thought the mask requirement had been lifted prematurely.

“I can't comment on the decision that's been made by elected government on removing the mandate, but the very clear recommendation from myself and from Public Health is that people continue to wear masks where previously they would have been required to wear masks,” Strang stated.