Easing of restrictions began this week

“I’m confident we are ready to start loosening restrictions.” Dr. Robert Strang

Many COVID restrictions in place since early last month have been eased as the province moves towards the direction of living with COVID.

Premier Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang said during a Feb. 9 briefing that given a decline in new positive cases and fewer new admissions to hospital, they're confident it is time to start reopening the province and grappling with COVID-19 as an endemic virus like the flu.

Houston said the move is possible because of Nova Scotia's high vaccination rates and the fact the province is leading the country in booster doses. Less than 10 per cent of Nova Scotians are unvaccinated.

"We're at a stage where Nova Scotia is ready to make gradual changes, and we can make those changes with confidence," Houston said. "The reality is that the more we continue to let COVID control our daily lives, the longer we will see the negative impacts, especially on our children and on our seniors.”

Gathering limits have increased. Sports and cultural events can resume and have spectators. Retailers can go back to 100 per cent capacity. Border restrictions have been lifted for domestic travellers. Indoor recreation and fitness facilities and restaurants can operate at 75 per cent capacity with social distancing.

Houston said lifting some restrictions is happening "because we know the need to balance between restrictions and the risk of COVID."

He said the province will continue to be guided by the advice of the office of public health.

"We know lifting of the restrictions will cause some anxiety for some ... but it's time to change our perspectives and approach," Strang added. "I'm confident we are ready to start loosening restrictions. We have passed the peak in our Omicron wave, and are seeing declining lab positives and cases in our long-term care facilities."

Strang noted the healthcare system is still under "tremendous pressure" with bed occupancy over 105 per cent.

The province is using a phased-in approach to easing restrictions. Each phase will last about a month. The movement to the next phase will depend on epidemiology, hospitalizations, case activity in long-term care homes and employee absenteeism.

The first phase still requires mandatory masking in indoor public places and proof of vaccination for discretionary, non-essential events and activities. Strang emphasized the decision to start lifting restrictions was "in no way" related to ongoing protests against vaccine and COVID mandates.

"Quite the contrary. It's based on following evolving science this entire pandemic. It's built on our experience and the knowledge of protection offered by vaccines. This is why we're in a position to start easing restrictions."

Phase 1 began on Feb. 14. Key points include:

Gathering Limits

• Informal gathering limit indoors/outdoors is 25 people from the same household or close social group. Physical distance and proof of full vaccination are not required. Masks are not required except in indoor public places.

• The formal gathering limit for gatherings and events hosted by a recognized business or organization will be 50 per cent of capacity indoors and outdoors. (Examples include festivals, special events, social gatherings, regular faith services, wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and associated visitation, receptions, meetings, training, and spectators at sports events, performances and movie theatres.)

Sports, Arts and Culture

• Professional and amateur sports participants (like players, coaches and referees) and arts and culture participants (like actors, performers and directors) are limited to 60 indoors and outdoors. Practices, training, regular league games, rehearsals and performances are allowed. No tournaments.

• Physical distance is not required. Masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors. Spectators are allowed according to the formal gathering limit.

Faith Services, Weddings and Funerals

• Regular faith services, weddings, funerals and associated receptions and visitation hosted by a recognized business or organization follow the formal gathering limit.

• Masks are recommended for choirs. Congregational singing is allowed, but masks are required.

• Proof of full vaccination remains in place for weddings, funerals and associated receptions and visitation. (Exception: funerals with up to 25 people without proof of full vaccination are permitted, but masks and physical distance are required.)

Fitness, Recreation and Leisure

• Fitness, recreation and leisure businesses and organizations can operate at 75 per cent capacity. (These limits apply to fitness facilities like gyms, yoga studios, pools and arenas; to recreation and leisure activities like dance and music lessons, indoor play places, arcades, shooting ranges, dog training; and to museums and libraries.)

• Day camps and before and after school programs can operate with groups of up to 30 campers, staff and volunteers.

Businesses

• Retail businesses and malls can operate at the maximum capacity possible with physical distance and masks.

• Personal services like hair salons can resume offering services that require removing masks; they can already operate at the maximum capacity possible with physical distance.

• Food establishments and liquor-licensed establishments can operate at 75 per cent capacity. They must have physical distance between tables and a limit of 25 people per table. They must stop dine-in service by midnight and close by 1 a.m.; takeout, drive-thru and delivery can operate later. Performers follow the limits for arts and culture participants.

Education

• Enhanced public measures, such as classroom cohorts and not allowing non-essential visitors, remain in effect in all schools.

• Singing and use of wind instruments can resume.

• Schools will follow the community guidelines on sports, arts and culture, but spectators will only be permitted after school hours.

Long-Term Care

• Residents can have two visitors at a time. They no longer need to be the same two visitors. Visitors must wear masks and be fully vaccinated, except for end-of-life visits.

• Even if fully vaccinated, residents can only leave the facility for medical appointments or for a drive in a facility or visitor's vehicle with no stops and no contact with other people outside the facility.

• Only residents who are eligible and have had a booster dose can access service providers for recreational activities and personal services like hairstyling.

Border Restrictions

• All border restrictions for domestic travellers entering Nova Scotia will be lifted. There will be no isolation requirements or Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. International travelers will continue to follow federal rules.