Most N.S. Covid Restrictions Could Be Gone By April

HALIFAX—The Nova Scotia government has laid out a plan to eliminate nearly all its Covid-19-related public health restrictions.

At a February 9 press briefing, the province’s top doctor said he’s “optimistic” the Omicron variant is slowing down.

Dr. Robert Strang said hospitalizations have passed their peak and the number of lab-confirmed cases is beginning to go down.

Strang said that Covid-19 is by no means over but pointed out that public health restrictions come with their own set of challenges.

“We will continue to carefully balance limiting the impact of Omicron on the most vulnerable in our healthcare system while starting to get back to normal,” he said. “Restrictions do come with their own set of serious impacts” economic, emotional, and physical.”

With that in mind, Strang said the province will start easing public health restrictions on February 14.

He said restrictions will ease gradually over three phases and that he anticipates each phase will last about a month.

Phase 1, which begins February 14, will come with increased gathering limits, increased capacity limits inside businesses, and the removal of border restrictions.

That means informal gathering limits will be bumped up to 25 people from the current 10. Formal gatherings will be allowed to operate at 50 percent of the venue’s capacity.

Businesses, meanwhile, will be allowed to operate at maximum capacity, as long as physical distancing is enforced. Gyms and other recreation facilities will be allowed to open at 75 percent capacity.

Restaurants will also be allowed to run at 75 percent capacity and will be allowed to stay open one hour later, until 1 a.m.

At a high level, Phase 2 will see gathering and capacity limits increased again. Phase 3 will mean no more gathering or capacity limits and the end to physical distancing requirements.

However, Strang said masks will still be required in indoor public places and the province’s vaccine passports will remain in place for now.

“While part of me would love to say we’re done with Covid and throw the doors of our province wide open, it’s my job to weigh the risks and benefits and recommend an approach that continues to protect the most vulnerable and our healthcare system in the least restrictive way possible,” Strang said.

“We’re no longer trying to contain the virus: it’s here and likely will be for a long time. Our aim is to prevent serious illness. It’s time to accept that we will see ongoing spread as we ease restrictions, but we will also rely on our high levels of immunity to protect us as much as possible from severe illness.”

Strang said public health officials will track positive test results, hospitalizations, and improvements in the capacity of the healthcare system as ways to decide when to move through phases of recovery.

Strang also addressed ongoing vaccine mandate protests in Ottawa and Nova Scotia. He said the decision to ease restrictions was “in no way a response to recent protests.”

“Quite the contrary: It is based on following evolving science this entire pandemic it’s built on our experience and the knowledge of the protection provided by vaccines. This is why we’re in a position to start to ease restrictions.”

“True shared freedom comes from love, caring, and compassion. Not from self-centered views, division, and anger.”

Trevor Nichols is the associate editor of Huddle, based in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].