Visitor restrictions relaxed
SYDNEY — Families with loved ones currently living in a long-term care home in Nova Scotia will soon be reunited following a provincial government announcement Wednesday.
The easing of restrictions this Monday will allow a nursing home resident to visit two family members at a designated spot outside the facility but physical distancing of two metres must remain in place.
The visitors will first be screened for any COVID19-related symptoms, and if they answer "no" to the questions posed by the nursing home, they, and their loved one can meet at a designated spot but everyone must don non-medical masks. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will be denied access.
The news comes as there are no active cases in any licensed long-term care home in Nova Scotia, including the Northwood facility in Halifax, where the pandemic has killed 53 residents.
There were no new cases reported Wednesday, leaving only five active cases in the province. Two individuals are currently in hospital, both in the intensive care unit.
The province has a total of 1,061 positive COVID-19 cases, which led to 62 deaths to date.
Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said it's been a challenging time for people who have a family member in care.
He asked for the public's patience as long-term care facilities attempt to communicate with families and arrange visits along with all of the other duties that occur daily at nursing homes.
“If a visit can be arranged, there's no health status (of a resident) that needs to be met,” Strang told reporters during a televised briefing.
“(Long-term care home residents) not having a (family) connection can have its own negative impacts.”
It's up to each facility when the visits can begin, according to Strang, as he noted not all facilities may be ready to welcome the public at designated sites on Monday.
It's up to individual care homes to “manage the details” on how the visits will take place.
Other rules to follow during the family outdoor visits include:
• Visitor information must be logged including date and time of visit to the facility.
• Visitors who are selfisolating are not permitted to enter the facility or grounds.
• Visits will be monitored by staff, who will escort visitors to the designated area and provide personal protective equipment if needed.
Facilities will be provided with materials to support this change including screening guidelines and staff education materials.
Strang said the province is ready to make this next step in its recovery phase from the initial wave of COVID-19.
“Our epidemiologists have said we're in a good position to do this.”
He said if a “very low and stable epidemiology” of COVID-19 cases continues to the end of June, further health-related restrictions could be eased. The next two to three weeks will tell the tale as to how well we've progressed since non-essential businesses were permitted to reopen on June 5, Strang said.
The province is also putting its afternoon televised news conferences it holds every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on hiatus because Strang is undergoing a surgical procedure today.
Strang informed reporters he has a “minor type of skin cancer” that requires him to travel to New Brunswick. The procedure he requires is not yet available in Nova Scotia, he noted.
He said he will self-isolate at home, but will continue working, for 14 days upon his return.
“It's a good example of practising what you preach,” Premier Stephen McNeil said, before adding he deems Strang “an essential service” to the province.