Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Alerts and notices

Possible exposure to COVID-19

Nova Scotia Health Authority Public Health is advising of potential COVID-19 exposure:

• 11 March – The Magnolia, 416 Highway #2, Enfield
• 15 March – Eagles Funeral Home and Alma Fire Hall, Westville
• 23 - 24 March – Rob Bitar’s Ristorante, 689 Highway 2, Elmsdale

Provincial State of Emergency

On March 22, 2020, the Province of Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency has been extended until noon on April 19, 2020. 

Health Protection Act Order

• Health Protection Act Order by the Medical Officer of Health (PDF 174 KB)

Emergency Management Act Declaration and Orders

• Declaration of Provincial State of Emergency (PDF 42 KB)
• Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency (PDF 272 KB)
• Direction of Minister under a Declared State of Emergency (PDF 196 KB)
• Direction of Minister – Municipal Meetings (PDF 50 KB)
• Direction of Minister – Municipal Public Transit (PDF 33 KB)

Police Act Order

• Direction of Minister – Nova Scotia Police Act (PDF 149 KB)

Under the state of emergency police are authorized to enforce orders under the Health Protection Act. If Nova Scotians and businesses do not practise social distancing and self-isolation, they will face fines of $1,000 for individuals and $7,500 for businesses. Multiple fines can be given each day an individual or business fails to comply. Police can also enforce offences under the Emergency Management Act. For example, fines for charging higher than fair market prices for goods and services.

If you’re aware of someone who isn’t following provincial direction, talk to them first – they may need help. If you need to call police, please call a non-emergency number for the police that serve your community. Do not call 911.

Closures and restrictions

COVID-19 testing data

Nova Scotia is testing for COVID-19. Updated 8 April 2020.

See more charts and graphics about COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia

* Positive cases are those found to have a positive confirmation by either the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s Microbiology Lab or the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.
** Negative cases are those found to have a negative confirmation by either the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s Microbiology Lab or the National Microbiology Lab.

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When to seek help

Symptoms

Symptoms of novel coronavirus include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

The severity can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, infection can lead to death. Current information suggests most people don’t experience severe illness or need to be hospitalized.

What to do if you think you might have come in contact with COVID-19

If you’ve travelled

The Province of Nova Scotia, under the authority of the Health Protection Act, is requiring anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia to self-isolate for 14 days from the day they get back to the province, even if they do not have symptoms.

When to call 811

Not everyone who has concerns about COVID-19 needs to call 811. To find out if you need to call, visit 811’s website.

Testing

Nova Scotia Health Authority has established COVID-19 assessment centres. If you need in-person assessment, 811 will refer you to a centre. Don't go to a COVID-19 assessment centre unless 811 referred you.

If you self isolate

If you are returning from travel outside Nova Scotia, you are directed to self-isolate for 14 days from the day you get back to the province, even if you do not have symptoms.

This means:

• go directly home; avoid work, school or other public areas
• limit contact with people you live with, if you have symptoms
• use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible, if you have symptoms
• take and record your temperature daily and avoid fever reducing medications (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
• call 811 if you have two or more of these symptoms - fever, a new cough or a cough that is getting worse, sore throat, runny nose, or headache
• make plans to have groceries and other supplies delivered
• avoid anyone with chronic conditions, compromised immune system or older adults
• do not have visitors to your home
• do not use public transit/taxi

In your home:

• keep shared spaces (e.g. kitchens, bathrooms) clean and well ventilated
• use soap and water to clean dishes and utensils after each use
• clean door handles, light switches, railings, remotes, and other high-touch areas daily
• clean your home and household items with store bought disinfectant or diluted bleach (one part bleach to nine parts water)
• wash clothes, and linens using regular laundry soap and water (60-90°C).
• do not share personal items (toothbrushes, clothing, towels, drinks, etc.)
• if available, use disposable gloves and protective clothing (e.g. plastic aprons) when cleaning anything soiled with bodily fluids

Protect yourself:

• wash your hands with soap and water regularly or use hand sanitizer
• cough into your sleeve or tissue and discard immediately
• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth

Safe activities if no symptoms (while keeping your distance from others):

• sitting on your deck or balcony
• yard work

The Government of Canada has additional resources about how to self isolate and how to care for someone with COVID-19.

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Support for Nova Scotians, businesses and health care

How we’re supporting individuals and families, seniors, businesses and the health care system during COVID-19.

Support for individuals and families

The province has made the following announcements to help vulnerable Nova Scotians:

Worker Emergency Bridge Fund

This fund supports people who are self-employed or laid-off who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance. Read more in the “Support for businesses” section on this page.

Income assistance

Every individual and family member on income assistance will receive an additional $50 starting Friday, 20 March. People do not need to apply.

We’re also extending the hours of our toll-free line for income assistance supports, including weekends. If you have questions about eligibility for income assistance, call:

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm - 1-877-424-1177

Monday to Friday 4:30pm to 7pm - 1-833-722-1417
Saturday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Sunday 10am to 2pm

Feed Nova Scotia and community food banks

We're giving $1 million to help Feed Nova Scotia purchase food and hire more staff, and $55,000 to support 12 smaller community food banks.

Cell phones for the most vulnerable

Government is partnering with Telus to provide 100 phones and calling plans to the most vulnerable Department of Community Services clients who have no other means of communication, and who may be self-isolated and alone.

Transition houses

We’re giving $200,000 to support transition houses and other organizations that serve vulnerable women and children.

Suspending student loan payments

Nova Scotia Student Loan payments are suspended until 30 September 2020. You don't need to make any payments, and your loans won't accrue interest. The suspension is automatic – you don't need to apply.

Support for seniors

Community Links and Seniors’ Safety Programs are programs that respond to the needs of vulnerable older adults across the province. Government is investing $230,000 in these programs to expand their capacity to provide more supports and services like:

• volunteers for delivering groceries
• technological options for keeping people connected by phone
• responding to other social issues as they emerge

If you need non-emergency, non-medical help, call 211 or visit ns.211.ca. 211 is a toll free helpline that connects you to community and social services in your area. This toll free helpline is available 24/7 in over 140 languages.

If you are accepting help from someone you don’t know, please remember to protect your own privacy and safety and follow these tips.

Keeping long-term care residents connected

We’re distributing 800 iPads to long-term care homes across the province so residents can connect with family and friends.

Support for businesses

Government has made these announcements to support businesses:

Commercial rent deferral

To support small and medium-sized businesses, landlords are encouraged to defer rent payments from their commercial tenants for 3 months, spreading the deferred rent amount over the rest of the lease term.

Landlords are not permitted to change locks or seize property of businesses who cannot pay rent, if the business closed directly because of COVID public health orders.

Worker Emergency Bridge Fund

We’re contributing $20 million to help self-employed people and laid-off workers who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance. Government will provide a one-time payment of $1,000 to bridge the gap between layoffs and closures and the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit

Small Business Impact Grant

Through this new $20-million program, eligible small businesses, non-profits, charities and social enterprises who have had to close or reduce operations because of the public health order may be eligible for a flexible grant. This one-time grant is equal to 15 per cent of revenue from sales, either from April 2019 or February 2020, up to a maximum of $5,000. You can use it for any purpose.

Applications open 10 April. The deadline to apply is 25 April. Read more about eligibility requirements and how to apply. (PDF 38 KB)

Changes to payments

• Government will defer payments until June 30 for all government loans, including those under the Farm Loan Board, Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Business Fund, Municipal Finance Corp. and Housing Nova Scotia.
• Government will defer the payment of small business fees until 30 June. This includes registration renewal fees and workers’ compensation premiums. A full list of deferred fees will be available later.
• Changes to the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, administered through credit unions, include deferring principal and interest payments until June 30, enhancing the program to make it easier for businesses to access credit up to $500,000, and for those who might not qualify for a loan, government will guarantee the first $100,000.
• Small businesses which do business with the government will be paid within five days instead of the standard 30 days.

Measures for restaurants

• Starting 30 March, restaurants can include alcohol purchases with take-out and delivery orders, as long as the alcohol cost is no more than 3 times the value of food ordered.

Funding for high-speed internet

• We’re providing providing $15 million as an incentive to providers to speed up projects under the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative and complete them as soon as possible.

COVID-19 employer assessment tool

Some businesses must close under the Health Protection Act order. Others can remain open if they meet certain requirements. Use the COVID-19 employer assessment tool to see what your business needs to do.

The Government of Canada has funding and other resources available for Canadians and businesses.

Health system response

Nova Scotia’s health care system is actively monitoring and detecting potential cases of novel coronavirus. This work includes:

• establishing a patient screening process for use by all front-line health care workers
• monitoring hospitals for potential cases
• applying effective public health and infection control measures
• communicating directly with community organizations and universities
• sharing accurate, up-to-date information with our partners and Nova Scotians

The province and its health system partners are working to increase capacity within the health system. This includes:

• expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity with temporary assessment centres, mobile assessment centres and EHS assessment units
• lab hours are moving to 24-hour-a-day operations – the lab can now process over 1,000 tests per day
• public health officials have begun testing all close contacts of positive cases
• expanding virtual care for physicians, nurse practitioners and others so they can offer appointments to patients through telephone or video, minimizing the need to leave the house
• pharmacists can renew prescriptions for most medications and government will cover the assessment fee
• College of Physicians and Surgeons waiving the fee for retired doctors to renew their licences so they can come back to work
• 811 has more than doubled capacity
• enhanced infection control measures at hospitals to protect health-care workers and the public including increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection, focusing on high-risk areas and high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces and using stronger cleaning products
• licensed long-term care homes are following the Department of Health and Wellness directive to prevent the introduction or spread of COVID-19. The directive includes cleaning, monitoring of residents and staff, testing, and reporting.

How your organization can help

We welcome help from businesses and organizations who can supply emergency products and solutions to support our response to COVID-19. Find out what we’re looking for.

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