N.S. Implementing Mandatory Vaccine Policy For Some Government Employees
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is modifying its move to Phase 5, tightening border restrictions, and implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for many government employees as the fourth wave of Covid-19 rips through the province.
Premier Tim Houston made the announcements on September 29, after calling out Nova Scotians who have chosen not to get vaccinated.
“The fourth wave is impacting Nova Scotians, our epidemiology is changing, and as tired as we all are of this pandemic we have no choice but to keep taking this very seriously. There is no other option,” Houston said.
He reminded Nova Scotians that the province’s proof-of-vaccination policy will start on October 4 and said he’s “more and more convinced how necessary” the policy is.
Under the policy, proof of full vaccination will be required for people 12 and older to participate in “discretionary, non-essential events and activities” like going to restaurants, movies, sports events, theatre performances, social events, and the gym.
Houston said getting a vaccine is vital to protect yourself, as well as the people around you, and that the province’s vaccine policy will allow people to gather together in larger groups more safely.
He had blunt words for people who still haven’t got their shots.
“To those who haven’t been vaccinated, now is the time,” Houston said.
“Some of you don’t want to, and I also know that you want to convince me that there is a reason not to get vaccinated. But let me be very clear: I don’t agree with you and no matter how many YouTube videos or conspiracy theories from so-called experts that you send to me, we will not agree.”
As the province leans harder on citizens who have not yet been vaccinated, it is also putting a mandatory vaccine policy in place for its employees who work with vulnerable populations.
The policy will cover several sectors, including healthcare workers, long-term care workers, paramedics, teachers, and a few others. A complete list of all the affected professions is available here.
People in those professions who aren’t yet vaccinated will be forced to attend an education program, and will have until November 30 to get both of their vaccines.
If they don’t, they will be put on unpaid administrative leave.
“Simply put, our vaccination rates are not high enough and we need to protect those who cannot protect themselves. People have had ample opportunities to get vaccinated, but there are still too many people who are choosing not to protect themselves and others,” Houston said.
He said there will be a process for people who cannot get vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons to prove that.
Meanwhile, the province is modifying the rules of Phase 5 of its recovery plan to account for the fourth wave.
Houston said the province will still remove gathering limits for large, sanctioned events like sports games that will be covered by the new proof-of-vaccination policy. However, the mandatory mask mandate will remain in place “until the risk of the fourth wave has been removed.”
The limits on informal gatherings will also stay in place, at 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors.
The province is also extending its border restrictions to P.E.I. and Newfoundland, which had recently been exempt from most measures.
As of September 29, Nova Scotia had 224 active cases of Covid-19. Of those, 12 people were in hospital, including two in ICU. Since August 1, there have been 742 positive COVID-19 cases and three deaths in the province.