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Today’s information was hard to hear. There were 227 cases announced but the total is closer to 427. We know that there are around 200 cases that have not been contacted or entered into the provincial tracking system yet. Because of this, Dr. Strang is pleading with everyone who has not gotten a test result or is symptomatic to please quarantine in case you are a positive case.
The new variants are aggressive and we're seeing the highest numbers by far since COVID-19 came to our province. This outbreak becomes more serious each day, and it is imperative to show that you care for your community, your loved ones, and your friends by following Public Health guidelines as closely as possible. If you can stay home, please, stay home. Do not interact with people outside of your own family or small bubble. As Dr. Barrett said recently: don’t get your tires changed over (I need to), don’t go to the garden centre, just stay home.
This is not an easy ask. Please also ask for help if you need it. 211 is a great resource generally. I’ve also included mental health resources at the end of this newsletter if you or someone you know might benefit. If you have the time and capacity, check in on people you know who might need a friendly word or offer of help.
I hope you are keeping as well as you can at this time. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance in navigating these difficult times.
Kind regards,
Claudia
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New Restrictions Effective Immediately
- Public and private schools will remain closed to students and at-home learning will continue until at least the end of May. Parents and families should prepare for the possibility of schools not reopening this year. This is very difficult for most families. Childcare centres will remain open at limited capacity especially for families of essential workers.
- Rotational workers who are returning home from outbreak zones can no longer do the modified form of self-isolation. They must self-isolate for 14 days in a completely separate space from the other people in their households, but they can share a bathroom that is cleaned between uses. Except for their mandatory COVID-19 testing, they cannot attend medical appointments unless there is an emergency.
- Nova Scotians are required to remain in their own communities except for essential travel such as for work, necessary shopping, and medical appointments including testing and vaccination appointments. Community is legally defined in the public health order as one's municipality, but we’re asked to stay as close to home as possible. If you’re in Dartmouth, please stay in Dartmouth.
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New Restrictions Effective at 8 am on Saturday, May 8th
Shopping
Nova Scotians must designate a single person from your household to do all shopping outside the home. Exceptions will be made for single parents with children and caregivers.
Retail stores that primarily offer products and services that are essential to the life, health, or personal safety of people and animals can continue to provide limited in-person service only to a maximum of 25% of the store's capacity in order to limit the number of people inside. Essential product categories are:
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- food
- pharmaceutical products, medicine and medical devices
- personal hygiene products
- cleaning products
- baby and child products
- gas stations and garages
- computer and cellphone service and repair
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- electronic and office supplies
- hardware supplies and home appliances
- pet and animal supplies
- gardening supplies
- workplace safety supplies
- automobile purchases (by appointment only)
- laundromats
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Nova Scotians are encouraged to order online for pickup or delivery whenever possible. People who have no other option than to shop in person are asked to shop for essential items only, limit their trips to retail stores and limit their time spent shopping.
New Restrictions Effective at 8 am on Monday, May 10th
Nova Scotia Border
- Nova Scotia's border will close to people intending to move here
- the border will close to people coming from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador; it was closed previously to non-essential travel from other provinces
There will be no exceptions for funerals and limited exceptions to be with an immediate family member who is at end of life.
The following people will be allowed to enter Nova Scotia:
- permanent residents returning to the province
- people who work outside the province
- post-secondary students returning home or entering to study; parents from outside Nova Scotia are not allowed to pick students up or drop them off
- people travelling for child custody reasons, following the child custody protocol
- people who are exempt from self-isolation, following the exempt traveller protocol (for example, long-haul truck drivers, airline crew, first responders, people needing essential health services)
- people who follow the protocol for travel between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for work, school, and child care only
A new application process will be added to the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in by May 14th for most travellers. An application process is already in place for specialized workers who are needed for urgent critical infrastructure work that's crucial for the province to function. Business requests for other workers to enter the province will not be considered.
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Vaccines & Testing
Thanks to the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation and Darren Godbout, Dartmouth is yet again a leader in the fight against COVID-19. Nova Scotia's first COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic will open on Monday, May 10, at the Dartmouth General Hospital. Bravo, Dartmouth General!
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People aged 45 and older are able to book appointments for Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at clinics across the province. If you can't get an appointment, check back as appointments are added on a rolling basis. Remember that COVID-19 vaccination appointments must be made online at novascotia.ca/vaccination or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.
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Some AstraZeneca appointments are still available across the province for those 40 to 64. You can book your appointment online or by calling the toll-free line. I got my first dose this week and I am grateful to have some protection for myself and those around me as we see case counts rising.
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If you are asymptomatic and would like to get tested, please do not book at a primary testing site. To avoid another backlog in tests like we saw this past weekend, please instead go to an asymptomatic pop-up testing site.
Public Health has warned Nova Scotians that COVID-19 variants of concern are present in our province. They are virulent and they are spreading in our community.
According to Dr. Lisa Barrett, more than 250 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Nova Scotian's who either are asymptomatic or perceive themselves to be asymptomatic. This week we lost two Nova Scotians to COVID-19 who hadn’t been tested and may not have suspected they had the virus.
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Book a Vaccine
Remember that if you are 45-years-old and older, you are now eligible to book an MRNA vaccine (40 for AstraZeneca). There is no expiration date on getting a vaccine. If you or someone you know is struggling to make an appointment, please reach out to my office and we will try to assist you.
Book online: novascotia.ca/coronavirus/book-your-vaccination-appointment
Book by phone: 1-833-797-7772 (7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week)
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Emergency Transport
Nova Scotia lost three people to COVID-19 this week. The Province has finally waived ambulance fees for COVID-19. We don't want to lose someone to the virus because they can't pay the ambulance bill. If you are ill with COVID-19 or know someone who is, please know that fees for COVID-19-related calls will be automatically waived.
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Support for Small Business
This week, the Province outlined its plan to support small businesses that were forced to close in this third wave. Many businesses I’ve spoken with feel these measures are insufficient. Believe it or not, new small businesses did open during the pandemic and in many cases are not covered by these programs. Please contact us if you have specific issues, in the meantime, below are the details of the new programs.
You can find these details and details for other financial supports on novascotia.ca/coronavirus/support.
Small Impact Business Grant Part 3
Provides grants of up to $5,000 for Nova Scotia businesses directly affected by the April 2021 restrictions.
Eligible businesses will receive a one-time grant of 15% of their sales revenue for the month of April 2019 or February 2020, up to a maximum of $5,000. For businesses established after March 15, 2020, the grant amount will be calculated as 15% of the sales revenue for any month from April 2020 to March 2021. The applicant can choose the month.
Businesses must either have experienced an average monthly revenue decrease of 30% or more for the period of March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, compared to the same time the previous year, or expect at least a 30% decrease in revenues in May 2021 resulting from the new restrictions introduced in April.
- an additional $12 million has been allocated for this program, which will be administered by the province
- this program will be available to:
- restaurants offering in-person dining service
- bar or licensed drinking establishments
- fitness, recreational and leisure facilities including gyms, yoga studios, indoor play areas, arcades, climbing facilities, dance programs and music lessons
- personal services including hair salons, barber shops, spas, nail salons and body art establishments
- independent retailers with a physical retail location
- live performing arts
If you previously received a Small Business Impact Grant, you’ll receive an email explaining the next steps the week of 3 May. Applications for businesses that didn’t previously receive a grant will open by 19 May.
Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program Part 2
This program provides qualified operators with a 50% rebate on the first six months of commercial property tax paid in 2021-22.
- $7.3 million has been allocated for this program, which will be administered by Tourism Nova Scotia
- businesses applying for this program must
- meet the definition of a roofed accommodation as set out in the Tourist Accommodation Registration Act
- be registered as a host under the act
- have more than five rooms available to rent
- not be in arrears of property taxes or property tax installment payments
- have experienced a year-over-year revenue loss of at least 30% from April 1 to Oct. 31, 2020
Operators who received payments under the first Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program will be automatically eligible as long as they are still the owners of the property. Applications will be available soon.
Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program
Provides eligible businesses with a one-time rebate of $1,000 or 50% of property taxes paid for the last 6 months of the 2020-21 tax year.
- $7 million has been allocated for this program, which will be administered by the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Response Council
- this program will be available to gym and fitness establishments, hair salons and barber shops, spas, nail salons, body art establishments, restaurants offering in-person dining service and bars and licensed drinking establishments
- eligible businesses must be recipients of previous Small Business Impact Grants (part 1 or 2), have experienced a year-over-year decline in revenues of at least 30% for the period April 30, 2020, to January 31, 2021, or have started operations on or after Jan. 1, 2020
Applications will open the week of May 10th. Apply here. Fee Deferral
The Province will also be deferring fees until June 30 for businesses that were required to close or were significantly curtailed by the April public health restrictions. Workers' compensation premium payments will be deferred until the end of July.
Federal Programs in place to support businesses are listed below. Please contact MP Darren Fisher with any questions regarding these programs.
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Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team
902-429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)
Crisis support for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis by phone 24/7 anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 pm to 1 am to most communities in HRM.
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868
Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, we’re here to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7. Live Chat is open daily from 8 pm to 1 am AT. They will be accepting new chats until 12:15 am AT only, in order to help ensure that all conversations are responded to by 1 am.
NSHA & IWK Mental Health and Addictions Intake Line
1-855-922-1122
For help with a mental health or addiction concern, the Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions team is available to take your call Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Morneau Shepell
1-844-751-2133
24/7 national crisis support line that is available to anyone in need of emotional support. By calling the crisis line, individuals will receive crisis counselling support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone and everyone, client or not.
Eskasoni Mental Health Services (Indigenous Nova Scotians only)
902-379-2099 or 1-855-379-2099 (toll-free) or Facebook: @EskasoniCrisisWorker
Culturally appropriate, community-based, and community-led mental health and addiction services available 24/7 by phone or via Facebook. Crisis intervention and referral services, central intake, ASIST/Safe Talk/Mental Health First Aid.
Pause: Mental Health Walk-In Clinic (ANS only)
1-800-598-5270 (toll-free)
A mental health drop-in program where community members can access a 45 minutes counselling session on a first-come-first-served basis. Currently only operating via telephone due to restrictions around COVID-19. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5 pm – 8 pm. Call at any time, leave your name and a call back number and the coordinator will reach out to you with an appointment time. You do not need a health card or a mental health diagnosis. You do not need to be a patient of the NECHC.
Association of Black Social Workers (ANS only)
1-855-732-1253 (toll-free) or email nsabswcovid19@gmail.com
Providing support to members of the African Nova Scotian community by phone and email Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. For after-hours calls, please allow up to 12 hours for a callback.
Healthy Minds Cooperative
902 404-3504 ext. 201
The HMC patient navigator, Brad, can help connect you with the appropriate support services within your community. Services in the community: support groups, programs and workshops, referral services, self-advocacy, web-based resources
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COVID-19 Information
- Toll-free: 1-833-784-4397
How and Where to get a COVID-19 Test
Primary Testing Sites. For symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. Book online or call 811. Dartmouth locations are Burnside/Dartmouth Crossing, by the Dartmouth General Hospital, and the Zatazman Sportsplex.
Public Health Mobile Units. Pre-book your appointment at the mobile unit online, call 811. Click here for mobile unit locations.
Pop-Up Rapid Testing. Asymptomatic testing. No appointment is necessary. This option is for you if you are over 16 and have no symptoms or exposures.
Click here for rapid testing locations.
Domestic Violence
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
Further Resources
2-1-1 is a 24/7 connection to programs and services in Nova Scotia. Call 211 or visit online.
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