Nova Scotia is taking a five-phase approach to its re-opening plan that is gradual and cautious.
Premier Iain Rankin says decisions will be based on case numbers and data.
For example, Phase 1 of the re-opening includes restaurants being able to open their patios on Wednesday, June 2 with a maximum of 10 people per table and by Phase 2 indoor dining would return in two to four weeks.
Meantime, students in communities outside of Halifax and Sydney will return to the classroom starting next week.
Students will return to class on June 2.
The decision was made after looking at low cases numbers in rural areas of Nova Scotia.
Travel will no longer be restricted within most of Nova Scotia, although people are asked to avoid non-essential travel into and out of Cape Breton Regional Municipality and into and out of areas of Halifax Regional Municipality, Hubbards, Milford, Lantz, Elmsdale, Enfield, Mount Uniacke, South Uniacke, Ecum Secum and Trafalgar. A final decision will be made about travel for those areas of the province early next week, based on COVID-19 activity.
Restrictions are easing effective 8 a.m., June 2, as phase one gets fully underway:
— Nova Scotians can gather outdoors with a consistent social group of up to 10 people without physical distance
— the limit for indoor gatherings remains the people you live with; two households with one or two people each can still join together but they must be the same two households all the time
— faith gatherings can be held outdoors with a limit of 10 plus officiants when hosted by a recognized organization; drive-in services are allowed with no limit on numbers
— wedding and funeral ceremonies remain limited to five plus officiants indoors but can increase to 10 plus officiants outdoors; there can be no receptions or visitations
— restaurants and licensed establishments can open patios at their maximum capacity with physical distance between tables, a limit of 10 people per table and masks when people are not eating or drinking; they must stop service by 11 p.m. and close by midnight
— all retail stores can operate at 25 per cent capacity, ensuring physical distance
— personal services such as hair salons, barber shops and spas can operate by appointment only following their sector plan but cannot offer services that require removing the customer’s mask
— fitness and recreation facilities can offer outdoor activities with a limit of 10 people with physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced on their own property, as well as one-on-one personal training indoors
— outdoor pools can open with a limit of 10 people at a time with physical distancing
— organized sports practices can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced
— professional arts and culture organizations can hold rehearsals with 15 people indoors and amateur rehearsals can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing
— drive-in theatres can operate with no limit on numbers
— campgrounds can offer season and short-term camping following their sector plan with distance between campsites
— residents of long-term care facilities can have visitors outdoors; visitors must wear masks but no physical distance is required if the resident is fully vaccinated
— recreation activities and services such as hairstyling can resume for fully vaccinated residents of long-term care facilities
— fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Health and Wellness under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work or school
— fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Community Service under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work, therapy, recreation and family visits
— more people can get exceptions to enter Nova Scotia for end-of-life visits with immediate family members
— students from within Canada can apply to enter the province for in-person or virtual studies if they are enrolled in the summer semester
People who do not follow the public health measures can be fined. For example, the fine is now $2,000 for each person at an illegal gathering.
A passenger testing program at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport is planned. Other border testing measures are being considered. More details will be released as they are developed.
