Provincial measures to address COVID-19
The Nova Scotia government has been issuing updates on ways to help curb and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This is an ever-evolving situation and we are challenged by our press deadline but here are some of the things that were announced provincially last week to give a sense of how the province has been responding to COVID-19.
STATE OF EMERGENCY CALLED
On Sunday, March 22, Premier Stephen McNeil called a province-wide state of emergency for Nova Scotia.
What it means:
• No more than five people permitted to gather in one location.
• Provincial parks are closed, visitors will be considered to be trespassing, cars will be towed.
• Effective Monday at 6 a.m., all Nova Scotians returning to the province, even from other provinces, must self-isolate for a period of 14 days.
• Screening to be managed at New Brunswick border, at ferry terminals in Digby and North Sydney and at airports in Halifax and Sydney.
• Exceptions are being made for those providing essential services, including truckers, health-care and child protection workers, and law enforcement.
• No entry into Nova Scotia for social reasons.
• Police authorized to enforce orders under Health Protection Act related to self-isolation and social distancing.
• Fines for violating orders under the act for individuals start at $1,000 per violation, per day; businesses and corporations face fines starting at $7,500 per violation, per day
BUSINESSES
Premier Stephen McNeil, Minister of Business Geoff MacLellan and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, announced measures on March 20 to help Nova Scotians and Nova Scotia businesses dealing with COVID-19.
Effective immediately, they said, government will invest $161 million to address cash flow and access to credit for small- and medium-sized businesses in Nova Scotia.
“I’ve put together a rapid response team to help us best understand the needs of smalland medium-sized businesses and our first wave of supports is focused on those most immediately impacted,” said MacLellan. “We will take further steps as necessary.”
Government will defer payments until June 30 for:
• all government loans, including those under the Farm Loan Board, Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Business Fund, Municipal Finance Corp. and Housing Nova Scotia.
• small-business fees, including business renewal fees and workers compensation premiums (a list of fees will be posted online early next week)
Changes to the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, administered through credit unions, include:
• deferring principal and interest payments until June 30
• enhancing the program to make it easier for businesses to access credit up to $500,000
• those who might not qualify for a loan, government will guarantee the first $100,000 Further measures include:
• small businesses which do business with the government will be paid within five days instead of the standard 30 days
• suspending payments on Nova Scotia student loans for six months, from March 30 to Sept. 30 and students do not have to apply
• ensuring more Nova Scotians can access the internet to work from home, by providing $15 million as an incentive to providers to speed up projects under the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative and complete them as soon as possible
STUDENTS
The Nova Scotia government is suspending payments on Nova Scotia student loans for six months, from March 30 to Sept. 30. Students do not have to apply for this.
VULNERABLE NOVA SCOTIANS
Premier Stephen McNeil, Community Services Minister Kelly Regan and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, announced on March 19, measures to help vulnerable Nova Scotians.
These measures include: • Investing $2.2 million so that every individual and family member on income assistance will receive an additional $50 starting Friday, March 20, to help pay for food, cleaning supplies and personal care items. People do not need to apply.
• $1 million to help Feed Nova Scotia purchase food and hire more staff.
• No tenant can be evicted because their income has been impacted by COVID-19, effective immediately for the next three months.
• Emergency funding of $230,000 for Senior Safety Programs and Community Links to help vulnerable older adults.
• University students from Nova Scotia who are still living in residences need to go home, to provide space for social distancing for those students from outside the province who are not able to travel.
MARCH 19 CLOSURES
It was announced on March 19 that personal service and fitness establishments such as hair salons, barber shops, spas, nail salons, body art establishments and gyms had to shut down by midnight.
MARCH 18 HEALTH-CARE ANNOUNCEMENTS
On March 18, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, Premier Stephen McNeil and Minister of Health and Wellness Randy Delorey announced measures to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 and increase capacity within the health system to respond.
Effective immediately:
• doctors and pharmacists have new options for virtual care, using telephone and secure videoconferencing.
• pharmacists can renew prescriptions for most medications and government will cover the assessment fee.
• employers cannot require a doctor’s note if an employee must be off work.
• College of Physicians and Surgeons waiving the fee for retired doctors to renew their licences so they can come back to work.
• retired and other nurses are being brought into the system to assist with 811 staffing.
• all service providers funded through the Department of Community Services’ Disability Support Program — including social enterprises, day programs and supported employment programs for adults with diverse abilities — will close to participants and the public.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS CLOSED
These measures came into effect as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 19:
• Restaurants are restricted to takeout and delivery only and no in-person dining. (Note: Some restaurants are choosing not to have patrons come into their establishments for takeout.)
• Drinking establishments, winery and distillery tasting rooms and craft taprooms had to close.
• Private liquor stores could continue to operate and craft breweries, wineries and distilleries could continue to sell their product from their storefronts.
FISHERIES
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell has been meeting regularly with the ministers responsible for fisheries and aquaculture in the other Atlantic provinces and Quebec to discuss ways to support the seafood industry during the COVID-19 crisis.
The province announced on March 20 that it is deferring payments and interest for government lending programs until June 30. This includes loans under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board.
The five provincial ministers have begun weekly discussions to share ideas and discuss developments and options. On March 20 the ministers also had a joint call with federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Bernadette Jordan.