Nova Scotia sets new restrictions on entry into the province and announces that on Thursday at 8 p.m. AT, people will not be allowed to enter unless their travel is deemed essential or they are permanent residents of the province.
Premier Iain Rankin made the announcement during a press conference early Tuesday afternoon. Only those traveling from PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador, where the number of COVID-19 cases are low, are exempt from the new rules.
Nova Scotia residents are also told not to leave the province unless necessary.
“With the increase in cases related to travel in the province, we have decided to restrict non-essential travel to Nova Scotia,” said Rankin. “This means that all Nova Scotians should not leave the province unless their travel is essential. It also means those people who live outside of Nova Scotia should not travel to our province unless they do so Travel is essential. “
The restrictions come when Dr. Robert Strang, the chief health officer, said there were early signs of the spread of the COVID-19 community, including in Lower Sackville, Halifax, Dartmouth and Lawrencetown. Strang urged everyone in these communities to get tested, whether or not they have symptoms.
The following types of travel from outside Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador are considered essential:
- People who live in Nova Scotia but have their main occupation in another province.
- Foreign temporary workers recognized nationwide.
- Individuals who must personally attend a court case in another province.
- Post-secondary students coming to Nova Scotia to study.
- Post-secondary students returning to their primary or family residence in Nova Scotia and parents accompanying them.
- Parents pick up a student in Nova Scotia to get them home as soon as possible.
- Individuals who can show that they have a new permanent address in Nova Scotia as of April 21 and are moving here permanently.
- Individuals who travel according to the custody protocol for custody reasons.
- Persons who are exempt from self-isolation according to the protocol for exempted travelers.
- Individuals traveling between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for work, school, or children in childcare should follow the protocol for travel between those provinces.
The new travel restrictions apply for four weeks, but can be extended beyond May 20th if necessary.
Strang said Nova Scotia would, for compassionate reasons, make fewer exceptions and not allow people from outside of Atlantic Canada for funerals – and “only in exceptional cases” for end-of-life visits.
According to Strang, the number of people traveling across the land border has increased by 400 percent recently, although he didn’t have specific numbers.
Once the restrictions are in place, anyone attempting to cross the border – including air travel – will need to fill out a digital check-in form and obtain approval.
Strang said the new restrictions also apply to anyone buying a home in the province. If the house is bought before April 21st, buyers can come to the province to move in. However, if they buy it after April 21st they will have to wait for the travel restrictions to change.
“We have to stop the influx of people coming to the province for non-essential reasons, including relocating,” said Strang. “Now is not the time.”
The province said details are still being worked out on who will need to isolate after essential travel.
9 new cases plus 2 more in schools
Nova Scotia reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total active cases to 68.
However, later in the day it was announced that two more school-related cases had been identified, including Dartmouth South Academy’s Elementary School and Auburn Drive High, both in Dartmouth.
These two schools will be closed for cleaning until April 26th. The two cases were identified after the cutoff date of the day, so they will be included in Wednesday’s COVID-19 numbers.
Public Health will liaise with anyone who has been in close contact with those affected and ask them to undergo testing for 14 days and self-isolate. However, Public Health recommends that all students and school staff be tested.
The province over the weekend announced the closure of two primary schools in the Halifax area due to COVID-19 cases.
Retired nurse Roberta Banfield gives Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, delivered his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Halifax Forum Vaccination Clinic on April 20, 2021. (Communication Nova Scotia)
Six of the new cases reported on Tuesday are in the central zone. Of these, five are close contacts to previously announced cases and one is being investigated.
Two new cases are in the western zone, one in the eastern zone. The three relate to travel outside of Atlantic Canada.
Two previously reported cases have been confirmed as the variant first found in the UK. They were related to travel.
There are two people in the hospital related to COVID-19 and none in the intensive care unit.
The laboratories completed 2,723 tests on Monday.
Accumulation of cases
Nova Scotians are banned from socializing with family members and friends who are due to be quarantined, Strang said, as a recent group of cases was sparked by a meeting with people who recently traveled from Ontario.
He said while residents can assist people in quarantine with food and essentials, they should not be in close contact with them.
“This puts us all at risk, as we can clearly see,” he said.
Along with an increase in travel-related cases, Strang said there were several small clusters in the Halifax area where public health has not yet been able to determine the source of the infection, suggesting early signs of community spread.
These clusters are located in four areas within the Halifax Regional Municipality: Halifax, Dartmouth, Sackville, and Lawrencetown.
Strang said public health is closely monitoring these areas and conducting extensive testing.
“We will take action sooner and stronger if necessary,” he said, adding that anyone living in any of these communities should be tested regardless of symptoms.
The public health mobile units are available TODAY until 5:00 p.m. for COVID-19 testing at Bethel Church, 5406 Rome Street, Halifax
Learn more about # COVID-19 Test options: https://t.co/8iGhUo6gBM #HalifaxNoise pic.twitter.com/7KlM6zHFnp
– –@ HealthNS
Rapid tests are available on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sackville Sports Stadium in Lower Sackville, and the assessment centers in the central zone have increased capacity.
Public Health is also working to set up its mobile testing unit at Bethel Church in northern Halifax for the next few days, according to Strang.
Share resources
Also as of Monday, 216,018 doses of vaccine were administered in Nova Scotia. Nearly 19 percent of the Nova Scotia population have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 3.4 percent are fully vaccinated.
Rankin said he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford over the weekend about what resources Nova Scotia could potentially share with Ontario, but said Nova Scotia will not reassign its vaccines. However, the province is considering whether to comply with Ford’s request for trained doctors and nurses to help in intensive care units in that province.
Rankin said vaccine deliveries are lower this week and next than they have been since mid-March, which means fewer appointments are available and it may take longer to reach the current age cohort. However, the prime minister so far said the supply issues will not affect the goal of giving all residents the first dose by the end of June.
Atlantic Canada case numbers
- New Brunswick did not report any new cases Tuesday for the first time in more than a month. There are 139 active cases known. 21 people are in the hospital, eight of them in the intensive care unit.
- PEI announced a new case on Tuesday for a total of 13 active cases. One person is in the hospital and has just left the intensive care unit.
- Newfoundland and Labrador reported two new cases on Tuesday for a total of 27 active cases.
