Below is a summary of announcements made by the Province since March 16.
Refer to novascotia.ca/news for full details
March 30:
- Schools closed until May 1. Online and paper-based learning strategies are being developed to support student learning.
- Employer Assessment tool to help businesses and non-profits clarify if they can remain open and how to comply with public health orders and workplace safety requirements added online
March 27:
- Support for landlords who enter into a rent deferral agreement with their commercial tenants
- Restaurants can now include alcohol in their take-out and delivery sales
- Government has purchased 800 iPads for use in long term care facilities
March 26:
- COVID testing is being expanded to include:
- Anyone referred by 811 to an assessment centre
- All close contacts of people who test positive
- People in hospital that meet the criteria for testing
- Reservations for 2020 camping season are on hold until further notice
- Open fires for any purpose in woods or within 305 metres of woods in any part of the province are banned until May 15
March 24:
- Measures to strengthen the health system, help Nova Scotians dealing with COVID-19
- Access Centres and Registry of Motor Vehicle Offices to resume operations in a scaled back, limited contact business model.
- Regulated health professions can stay open for emergency or urgent care or to provide virtual care as long as they meet social distancing requirements
- Non-regulated health professions must close (with exception of podiatrists)
March 22
- State of Emergency declared
March 21
- Dentists can no longer practice dentistry in their offices unless deemed necessary to perform an emergency dental procedure
March 18
- Announcement re: Personal Services and fitness establishment closures
- Includes: hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons, body art establishments, gyms
March 17
- No public gatherings of more than 50 people
- Announcements re: restaurants
- Only take-out and delivery permitted
- Drinking establishments, winery and distillery tasting rooms and craft taprooms closed
- Private liquor stores permitted to be open, and craft breweries, wineries and distilleries can still sell storefront
- Access Nova Scotia closed
March 15
- Long-term care closed effective immediately
- Public schools and regulated childcare closed
- Social distancing – 2 meters/6 feet, gatherings of less than 150 or much smaller if possible