|
COVID-19 numbers in Nova Scotia are on the rise, particularly in Dartmouth. Beginning tomorrow, April 23rd, we are entering into a lockdown period for four weeks. This "circuit-breaker" should help stop the community spread in our province. New restrictions include:
Gatherings
- the gathering limit is five, both indoors and outdoors. Families larger than 5 can be together inside and outside.
- no social events, special events, festivals, arts/cultural events, sports events, faith gatherings, wedding receptions, or funeral visitation or receptions
- wedding and funeral ceremonies hosted by a recognized business or organization can have five people, plus officiants
- no meetings or training except mental health and addictions support groups, which can have 25 people with physical distancing and masks
- no sports practices, training, games, competitions or tournaments
- no arts and culture rehearsals or in-person performances
- virtual gatherings and performances can be held with a maximum of five people in one location
Business and retail
- restaurants and licensed establishments are closed to seated service. Take-out is allowed.
- licensed and unlicensed establishments cannot host activities such as darts, cards, pool and bowling
- retail businesses and malls can operate at 25% capacity and must follow other public health measures
- personal services such as hair salons, barbershops, and spas are closed
- in private indoor workplaces such as offices or warehouses, masks are mandatory effective April 23 in all common areas, places where there is interaction with the public, areas with poor ventilation, and areas where distance cannot be maintained
We are told that a Small Business Impact Grant will be made available to businesses affected by these new restrictions.
Health and Fitness
- unregulated health professions such as massage therapy and other complementary or alternative medicine providers are closed, with the exception of continuing care workers, home-care workers, ocularists and podiatrists
- indoor fitness facilities like gyms and yoga studios and sport and recreation facilities like pools, arenas, tennis courts and large multipurpose recreation facilities are closed
- outdoor fitness and recreation businesses can operate with 25 people and physical distancing
- businesses and organizations offering a wide variety of indoor recreation activities are closed, such as indoor play areas, arcades, climbing facilities, dance classes and music lessons
Cultural Facilities
- museums, libraries and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia are closed, but libraries can offer pick-up and drop-off of books and other materials
Care Facilities
- there will be no visitors or volunteers allowed inside long-term care facilities but designated care providers can continue to provide normal service and outdoor visits can be arranged
- all homes licensed by the Department of Community Service under the Homes for Special Care Act cannot have visitors and residents cannot have community access
- all adult day programs for persons with disabilities funded by the Department of Community Services will be closed except for scheduled vaccine clinics at three of these programs
- all adult day programs for seniors remain closed provincewide
Travel
- Residents are asked to avoid all non-essential travel in and out of HRM for the next four weeks.
School Closures
We've seen cases connected to six Dartmouth schools: Mount Edward Elementary, Dartmouth South Academy, Auburn Drive High, Joseph Giles Elementary, Shannon Park Elementary, and South Woodside Elementary, in addition to Bell Park Academy in Lake Echo.
This has precipitated the closure of all schools in the Auburn Drive High, Cole Harbour District High, and Dartmouth High families, as well as École secondaire Mosaïque, École du Carrefour, and École Bois-Joli, effective tomorrow, Friday, April 23, 2021, for 2 weeks. You can check the COVID-19 cases connected to public schools here.
|
|
|
Schools that have already been closed and are supporting students with online learning will continue to do so. For schools closing tomorrow, online instruction will begin Wednesday, April 28th.
For schools that remain open, pre-Primary children to Grade 12 will be required to wear a mask in school beginning April 26th.
Additionally, effective today, April 22nd, people from outside Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador will not be allowed to enter Nova Scotia unless their travel is essential or they are permanent residents of Nova Scotia.
Note that outdoor spaces are not restricted except by gathering limits. We are slated to have a beautiful day on Saturday so, if you can, take advantage of our beautiful parks, beaches, trails, outdoor rec facilities, and your own backyard.
With 25 new cases yesterday, and 38 today, public health has made it clear that there is community spread. This is very concerning, especially given the presence of Variants of Concern. We can do this: we've stopped the spread before and we can stop it again. The best way to get cases under control is to identify and isolate them. So please get tested. It's free, fast, and makes a big difference.
Where to Get Tested
Primary Testing Sites. For symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. Book online or call 811.
Dartmouth Sites:
Public Health Mobile Units. Pre-book your appointment at the mobile unit online, call 811, or drop in.
Friday, April 23
Saturday, April 24
COVID-19 Pop-Up Rapid Testing. No appointment is necessary. This option is for you if you:
- are over 16
- do not have symptoms
- have not travelled
- have not visited a potential exposure location
- have not been in contact with someone who has tested positive
Thursday, April 22
Friday, April 23
Saturday, April 24
Sunday, April 25
Please continue to be vigilant about following public health guidelines:
Vaccines
Additionally, Nova Scotians 60+ are now eligible to book Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Some AstraZeneca vaccine appointments remain open for people who are 55 to 64 years old. More appointments are added as vaccine supply becomes available.
Book your vaccine here.
This is a big shift, and it’s a lot to take in. The headline is that we need to once again stay home, limit contacts and stop the spread. Please continue to be kind, and, if you can, call and check in on those you know are alone or who may be struggling. We can all get through this together.
Claudia
|
|
|
What is "essential travel"?
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 their primary employment is in another province
- federally approved temporary foreign workers
- people who need to participate in-person in a legal proceeding in another province
- post-secondary students coming to study in Nova Scotia
- post-secondary students returning to their primary or family residence in Nova Scotia and parents who accompany them
- parents picking up a student in Nova Scotia to take them home as quickly as possible
- people who can demonstrate that they already have a new permanent address in Nova Scotia as of April 21 and are moving here permanently
- people travelling for child custody reasons following the child custody protocol
- people who are exempt from self-isolation following the exempt traveller protocol
- people travelling between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for work, school or children in child care, following conditions in the protocol for travel between these provinces
|
|
|
COVID-19 Information
- Toll-free: 1-833-784-4397
Mental Health
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/.
Domestic
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
Further Resources
211 is a 24/7 connection to programs and services in Nova Scotia. Call 211 or visit online.
|
|
|
|
|
|
