Parks, Trails, And Some Businesses Can Now Re-Open in Nova Scotia
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government has lifted some public health restrictions tied to the province’s Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, and Premier Stephen McNeil made the announcement at a press conference today.
“In the past seven weeks, our province has experienced tremendous tragedy. I’m worried about all of you and I’m worried about how we are coping – so we need to get out of our heads and out of our houses and get outside,” McNeil said.
Outlining the changes, Strang said that, effective immediately, the province is allowing provincial and municipal parks, hiking trails, and community gardens to re-open. This order includes sports fields and school grounds.
For now, Strang said, all beaches and playgrounds will remain closed.
As of today, Strang also said garden centers, nurseries, and “similar businesses” can start running again. Driving ranges, including those on golf clubs, can reopen as well, although golf courses must remain closed.
The province is also letting people into boating, yacht, and sailing clubs to prepare their boats for use, as well as allowing people to go sportfishing, although fishing derbies are still banned.
Dr. Strang also said people are once again free to visit their cottages, as well as attend drive-in religious services as long as everyone stays in their cars.
More detailed information on all the news rules is available here.
Strang said that, even though some restrictions are being loosened, core public health measures like social distancing, hand washing, and restrictions on gathering in groups larger than five remain in place.
“We want people to get outside… but it’s really important that we all do this safely and do this in a way that continues to follow public health directives,” he said.
He acknowledged there may be some initial confusion around the specifics of the new rules, but asked people to use their heads and follow them to the best of their ability.
That means not visiting parks and open spaces if they’re already crowded, only visiting parks and trails near your home, and not getting together in large groups.
“Please do your best, and use common sense,” Strang said.
He added that people’s ability to follow these rules safely will determine how quickly the rest of the province can open up.
He warned, however, that reopening the province will still have to happen in a slow and measured way. It’s better to take our time, he said, then go too quickly and “undo the hard work Nova Scotians have put in until now.”
Even as Strang lifts public health restrictions, he announced today that one more resident of Northwood has died from Covid-19 in the province.
Additionally, 12 new cases of the virus were reported in the province today. In total, there are still 595 active Covid-19 cases in Nova Scotia, and 592 people have recovered.
Strang noted that there has been an “encouraging, continuing trend downward” in the number of cases in the province, which was part of the reason some restrictions were relaxed today.
McNeil added that Nova Scotia is “not out of the woods at all when it comes to [Covid-19],” but that considering recent tragedies it’s important to balance public health protocols with everyone’s mental health.
“It will be good to see family units walking in our parks… It will be good to see neighbours who decide they’re going to drive their ATV. It will be good to see some level activity within our provinces as we continue to chase [Covid-19] and hopefully provide ourselves this weekend with just some level of happiness,” he said.