Nova Scotia says latest COVID-19 wave is being crushed, announces reopening plan - HalifaxToday.ca

HALIFAX - As Nova Scotia emerges from the biggest COVID-19 outbreak to hit the Atlantic region since the pandemic began, the provincial government released Friday the first phase of its plan to reopen the economy and lift lockdown restrictions.

Premier Iain Rankin said the province's four-phase plan will allow Nova Scotians to enjoy the summer while efforts continue to get the population fully vaccinated.

"The wave is being crushed in almost record time when you look at what's happening across the country,'' Rankin told reporters. "How? Because we locked down quickly and decisively.''

Restrictions on travel within most of Nova Scotia were lifted Friday, although people are asked to avoid non-essential travel in and out of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and much of the Halifax region.

Most changes will begin to take effect next Wednesday, as businesses across the province will be allowed to open further, outdoor visits at long-term care facilities will be allowed and outdoor gathering limits will be increased, however, the limit for indoor gatherings remains the same.

In-person classes will resume Wednesday at all schools outside of Halifax Regional Municipality and Sydney. And all licensed child-care centres and family daycare homes can return to 100 per cent capacity.

(The Canadian Press)

Restrictions are easing effective 8 a.m., June 2, as phase one gets fully underway:

• Nova Scotians can gather outdoors with a consistent social group of up to 10 people without physical distance
• the limit for indoor gatherings remains the people you live with; two households with one or two people each can still join together but they must be the same two households all the time
• faith gatherings can be held outdoors with a limit of 10 plus officiants when hosted by a recognized organization; drive-in services are allowed with no limit on numbers
• wedding and funeral ceremonies remain limited to five plus officiants indoors but can increase to 10 plus officiants outdoors; there can be no receptions or visitations
• restaurants and licensed establishments can open patios at their maximum capacity with physical distance between tables, a limit of 10 people per table and masks when people are not eating or drinking; they must stop service by 11 p.m. and close by midnight
• all retail stores can operate at 25 per cent capacity, ensuring physical distance
• personal services such as hair salons, barber shops and spas can operate by appointment only following their sector plan but cannot offer services that require removing the customer's mask
• fitness and recreation facilities can offer outdoor activities with a limit of 10 people with physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced on their own property, as well as one-on-one personal training indoors
• outdoor pools can open with a limit of 10 people at a time with physical distancing
• organized sports practices can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced
• professional arts and culture organizations can hold rehearsals with 15 people indoors and amateur rehearsals can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing
• drive-in theatres can operate with no limit on numbers
• campgrounds can offer season and short-term camping following their sector plan with distance between campsites
• residents of long-term care facilities can have visitors outdoors; visitors must wear masks but no physical distance is required if the resident is fully vaccinated
• recreation activities and services such as hairstyling can resume for fully vaccinated residents of long-term care facilities
• fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Health and Wellness under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work or school
• fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Community Service under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work, therapy, recreation and family visits
• more people can get exceptions to enter Nova Scotia for end-of-life visits with immediate family members
• students from within Canada can apply to enter the province for in-person or virtual studies if they are enrolled in the summer semester

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Nova Scotia says latest COVID-19 wave is being crushed, announces reopening plan - HalifaxToday.ca
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