N.S. Delays Phase 5 Because Of Surge In Covid-19 Cases
Halifax — Nova Scotia is delaying Phase 5 of its recovery plan as Covid-19 cases in the province spike.
On Tuesday, Minister of Health and Wellness Michelle Thompson announced the province will remain in Phase 4 of its recovery plan until October 4 when its planned vaccine passport system was scheduled to begin.
Premier Tim Houston has previously said, on multiple occasions, that the province will be able to enter Phase 5 on Sept. 15. Phase 5 would have seen most public health restrictions in the province lifted, including gathering limits and mask mandates.
RELATED: Nova Scotia Will Implement Vaccine Passport System, Entre Phase 5 On Schedule
Thompson said the rising Covid-19 case counts in Nova Scotia and other provinces are the reason for the Phase 5 delay.
Today, the province announced 66 new Covid-19 cases. Those are on top of the 73 new cases identified between September 10 and 13.
A significant chunk of those new cases come from a “large cluster” of linked cases in the province’s Northern Zone. Most of that group is unvaccinated.
As of September 14, Nova Scotia has 173 active cases of Covid-19. Of those, four people are in hospital Covid-19 units.
“To say the least, this is not where we want [to be] as we’re set to go into Phase 5,” Thompson said.
“Nova Scotians have worked hard, we’ve worked very hard to get to this point and I know you’re tired of restrictions. But this province has weathered the pandemic better than most provinces because Nova Scotians do what is needed to keep our friends and family safe.”
Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said it makes sense to delay Phase 5 for a few more weeks because the province’s vaccine passport system will be in place by that time.
Phase 5 will mean much larger gatherings will be permitted and Strang said proof of vaccination program will make those large gatherings much safer.
Meanwhile, the province is making exceptions to its Phase 4 rules for several large arts and entertainment organizations that have already sold tickets for events between now and October 4.
Strang said those events will be allowed to happen, at full capacity, as long as mask rules are followed and every attendee is fully vaccinated.
Strang also gave more information about what the province’s proof of vaccination policy will look like once it’s rolled out on October 4.
The policy will require anyone 12 or older to provide proof of vaccination to go to “places where groups of people gather together for discretionary activities.”
That includes restaurants, bars, and casinos where people sit at tables, but not restaurants that are primarily drive-through or take-out.
It also includes:
- bars and other liquor establishments;
- fitness and recreation facilities;
- leisure facilities like dance and music lessons, climbing facilities, and escape rooms;
- indoor and outdoor festivals, special events, and arts and culture events;
- participants and spectators of sports events; museums, public libraries and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia;
- receptions, social events, conferences and training that are hosted by a recognized business or organization, and
- wedding and funeral ceremonies, receptions and visitation that are hosted by a recognized business or organization.
Meanwhile, proof of vaccination won’t be required for employees of businesses and organizations that offer these events and activities.
It also won’t be required for places such as:
- retail stores;
- financial institutions;
- food establishments that primarily offer fast food, takeout and delivery;
- professional services such as accountants and lawyers;
- personal services such as hair salons, barbershops, spas and body art;
- health-care services and health professions such as doctors’ offices, dental care, massage therapy and physiotherapy;
- rental accommodations such as hotel rooms, cottages and campgrounds;
- faith services;
- school-based activities that take place during the school day, before and after school programs and school buses;
- business meetings and other activities where the general public is not present;
- places where government services are offered;
- food banks, shelters, Family Resource Centres and adult day programs for seniors or people with disabilities;
- informal gatherings at a private residence.
Strang also spoke directly to Nova Scotians who aren’t yet vaccinated.
“I understand that some people have different perspectives about getting vaccinated and that choice is important, especially when it comes to our own personal health and wellbeing. But personal choice cannot be all you think about when it comes to Covid vaccines,” he said.
I would ask that you think about others and that you focus on the ‘we,’ not the ‘me.’ The choice to be vaccinated or not has implications for everyone around you.”
“We are experiencing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Because of the risk of further spread we are having to slow down our reopening. That impacts directly, people families, the healthcare system and our economy.”
More information about Nova Scotia’s public health restrictions or Covid-19 cases is available here.