Full Capacity Allowed At Shops, Bars, As Nova Scotia Enters Phase 4
HALIFAX— Nova Scotia will enter Phase 4 of its Covid-19 recovery plan on July 14.
Moving into the next phase of recovery will mean most restrictions on businesses, events, and gatherings in the province will be lifted.
At a Covid-19 update on July 12, Premier Iain Rankin said the number of Covid cases in the province remains low, and vaccine uptake is solid.
“We are not clear of Covid, but because of your hard work we can relax the rules,” he said.
On July 13, the province recorded one new Covid-19 case and five recoveries, putting the total case count in Nova Scotia at 31. As of July 12, 75 percent of Nova Scotians had received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and more than 40 percent had received their second dose.
“We’re pleased with vaccination rates and our epidemiology continues to improve, putting us in a good position to move to Phase 4 of our reopening plan,” Rankin said in a July 12 news release. “This doesn’t mean we can let our guard down, but it does mean we can enjoy larger gatherings and support businesses by exploring all that Nova Scotia has to offer this summer.”
Entering Phase 4 means restaurants, bars, and casinos can open with normal hours and without capacity limits. However, patrons must still wear a mask and groups are limited to 25 people.
Retail stores can also operate at maximum capacity if they have public health measures, like masking and social distancing, in place.
Gyms and other recreation facilities — as well as recreation and leisure businesses like dance classes and music lessons — are also allowed to operate at maximum capacity, with public health measures in place.
Professional and amateur arts and culture rehearsals and performances can take place with up to 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors without physical distancing.
Faith gathering, weddings, and funerals can also happen at 50 percent capacity, to a maximum of 150 people inside or 250 outside.
Meanwhile, informal, personal gatherings are allowed within households and “close social contacts,” with a maximum size of 25 people inside or 50 outside. Masks at these gatherings aren’t required.
As Phase 4 begins, Nova Scotia’s border policy will remain the same. That means anyone from Atlantic Canada can enter the province without self-isolating.
People coming from the rest of Canada are also allowed in, however, they must complete a check-in form and may need to self-isolate upon arrival. Self-isolation requirements are based on vaccination status and testing.
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