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What felt like an abrupt pause on life in March is now starting to feel like the new normal. Luckily as the weather gets warmer we’re now able to move about a bit more safely and to connect with loved ones in “bubbles.” The data shows that Nova Scotia is reaching the end of the first wave of COVID-19, but Public Health warns that there are likely to be more smaller waves of infection and so we must continue to adhere to physical distancing measures.
It’s been a week since the loosening of restrictions around parks and beaches and permission to bubble with mutually exclusive households. Given the incubation period, Dr. Strang has advised that two weeks is the window for evaluating each step of re-opening and returning to more movement. So far, so good. Our curve continues to be flat and we are nearly down to zero new cases. Still, people are advised not to gather in groups of more than five people, that you be outside, and that you maintain physical distancing measures including keeping 6ft of distance, washing hands thoroughly, and not sharing food or other items like cutlery.
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Meanwhile, the tragedy at Northwood continues to unfold, prompting important questions about how this could happen, and what the future of Long Term Care should look like. This crisis did not unfold overnight. As recently as February it was clear that Northwood needed capital investment to ensure that residents could have single rooms. We’ve also known about the terrible impact of budget and staffing reductions. Once we can attend to the residents and their families, and once they can appropriately grieve, we need an inquiry into Long Term Care in Nova Scotia to ensure that this does not happen again.
As always, please be in touch if there are other questions we can answer.
- Claudia
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Beautiful Sullivan's Pond this past week.
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Legislative Work
I continue to work with my colleagues to get our legislative committees back up and running. With provincial legislators across the country, municipal councillors, and federal MPs finding ways to get back to work, it’s time for your provincial MLAs to be back as well. Legislative Committees like Health and Public Accounts are crucial for transparency and for the functioning of our democracy. They provide an opportunity for the opposition to question the government, contribute to decision making, and provide accountability for decisions around policy and spending that affect all Nova Scotians. In a glimmer of hope the Human Resources Committee is meeting on Tuesday; they required unanimous consent to postpone and it seems some MLAs were ready to meet. The meeting will be held by teleconference and will be broadcast live on Legislative TV and YouTube at 10:00am.
After hearing from hundreds of Nova Scotians with important questions about the tragic events of April, our caucus has joined a chorus of voices calling on the Province to launch an inquiry into the devastating mass shooting to better understand how to prevent a terrible tragedy like this from ever happening again, with particular attention to the roots of gender-based violence.
Health
Public Health has expanded the list of symptoms to look out for when considering whether you require a test for COVID-19. Many are quite common, but if you have one or more of the following, visit 811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:
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- fever (i.e. chills, sweats)
- cough or worsening of a previous cough
- sore throat
- headache
- shortness of breath
- muscle aches
- sneezing
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- nasal congestion/runny nose
- hoarse voice
- diarrhea
- unusual fatigue
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- red, purple or blueish lesions on the feet, toes or fingers without a clear cause.
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Day and short-term surgeries cancelled due to COVID-19 are now being rescheduled. If your surgery was cancelled due to COVID-19 you can expect to hear from the IWK or NSHA soon to rebook. Procedures were slated to begin today, May 25th.
More restrictions are being lifted in the healthcare system. The IWK is now permitting two support people for pediatric inpatients and women in labour. One support person is permitted for pediatric appointments and day surgery, in the emergency department, and for early labour assessment. You can expect to be screened when entering the hospital and general visitors will not be permitted to enter the IWK.
The NSHA is allowing two support people for palliative care patients nearing end of life, patients receiving medical assistance in dying, children admitted to hospital, and labour and birth. As well, one support person for children in outpatient settings, patients who need assistance, including but not limited to cancer care, some emergency, outpatient or critical care situations, discharge planning, and patients with significant cognitive or physical disabilities who need an essential support person in order to receive care.
Many are breathing a sigh of relief as the 30-day prescription limits are lifting. In a preemptive effort to avoid drug shortages during the pandemic, the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists stopped dispensing 60- and 90-day prescriptions, meaning that dispensing fees were applied to every refill, which is quite a financial burden for those of fixed or low incomes.
Business
The Premier has said that if we continue to see a decline in new cases of COVID-19, we can expect to see businesses opening up again in early June. Businesses that were ordered to close are allowed to open again if they are able to maintain Public Health’s recommendations of 6ft physical distance between customers and workers.
My office has heard from many of you with concerns about childcare, safety, and fear that your favourite small businesses won’t survive this crisis. In addition to sitting on the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission I have been meeting with Business Improvement Districts and owners across the province to understand what they need most in the next few months. Our caucus is also pushing for answers on the childcare front.
We’ve had many people reach out asking the Provincial government to: 1) Issue a moratorium on commercial evictions, and 2) Make CECRA mandatory for landlords.
We were glad to see the government did issue a moratorium in response to commercial evictions. With regard to making CECRA mandatory, this may take legislative work -- another reason the Province should be availing themselves of the ability to meet online.
My colleagues and I have been urging the government to set up a small business hotline to directly support small businesses through the various support programs. We have pressed the government to work with their federal counterparts to have banks waive interest fees on mortgages, loans, credit cards, and lines of credit. We joined with the federal NDP to call for an expansion of CEBA eligibility to allow more small businesses and sole proprietors to access that money -- we are glad to see that this call was successful.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to my office to support the diversity of small businesses in Dartmouth South that make our community so engaging. I continue to work hard to ensure they are supported. Business owners: know that your clients, guests, and customers are behind you!
If you are a business looking for PPE, The Village on Main put together a list of local supplies:
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Internet
For anyone who uses the internet regularly, it’s difficult to imagine not having access to the web. Given the massive shift to online communications, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be an informed, engaged citizen without access to the internet--a fact that has been exacerbated in the wake of the last few months.
It was a relief to see the Province finally take note of the need, not luxury, of the internet for Nova Scotians with the announcement of $15 million to speed the delivery of high-speed internet to rural areas. Infrastructure is one question, but affordability is quite another.
In addition to the struggle of rural communities who have been fighting for infrastructure to allow them to get online, you may not know that there are many internet deserts in the urban centre and in Dartmouth specifically. My colleagues and I have been advocating for both connectivity and affordability as Nova Scotia’s internet plan trudges slowly forward. As I said in 2018, "If the Internet is not affordable, it might as well not be there."
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The Coast published a great explainer on COVID-19 benefits. If you are receiving CERB, remember that you have to reapply every four weeks. Another key note is that CERB is considered taxable income so be sure to account for that in your budget.
Seniors
The federal government is providing additional financial support of $2.5 billion for a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). For those eligible for both, that translates to $500 to help people get through these tough times.
Additionally, there will be an extension of GIS and Allowance payments if a seniors' 2019 income information has not been assessed. Be sure to submit your 2019 income no later than by October 1, 2020.
As with all federal programs, please reach out to your MP for questions. In Dartmouth, that is Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, 902-462-6453.
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United Way launched the "no home" campaign last week with installations around the city. When we are being asked to stay home, homelessness becomes a stark issue. Read more about this campaign here and donate to the United Way here.
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Portland Street, Dartmouth
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Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth
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Feed Nova Scotia launched the COVID-19 Food Box program last week. “The purpose of this short-term initiative is to provide home delivery of food to Nova Scotians who lack the means to access any other form of food support, largely because they can’t leave their home and they don’t have the funds, friends, or family to help get food. Anyone facing this situation can call 211 on weekdays between 8 am and 8 pm and they’ll help determine if this program is a good fit.” Please share this information.
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Last year, the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre and the Dartmouth Family Centre announced that they would be joining under one roof in the food centre’s current building at 6 Primrose. Despite a global pandemic, the new facility is complete! The move presented an opportunity for a re-brand and both facilities are now known as The North Grove Dartmouth. Congratulations!
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Mental Health Support
The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them: 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)
Kids Help Phone is available 24/7: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)
Morneau Shepell has also opened its 24/7 bilingual crisis support line to help anyone in need of emotional support as a result of the recent tragic events in our province: 1-844-751-2133
Wellness Together Canada mental health portal https://ca.portal.gs/. |
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Self-Assessment
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, visit https://811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:
- fever (i.e. chills, sweats)
- cough or worsening of a previous cough
- sore throat
- headache
- shortness of breath
- muscle aches
- sneezing
- nasal congestion/runny nose
- hoarse voice
- diarrhea
- unusual/extreme fatigue
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- red, purple or blueish lesions on the feet, toes or fingers without a clear cause.
Other Support
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
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