Stay close to home. You can only travel outside your community for essential travel (when it’s absolutely necessary, like shopping for food and going to medical appointments).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): alerts, news and data
Information about the state of emergency, COVID-19 updates, possible COVID-19 exposure and the Health Protection Act Order.
On this page
Potential exposure to COVID-19
Keep up to date on potential COVID-19 exposures from Public Health. Exposure notifications include dates, times, places and advice on what to do.
COVID Alert
COVID Alert is a free exposure notification app. The app lets you know if you may have been exposed to COVID-19. You can also use the app to let others know if you test positive without sharing any personal information.
Case data
Find information on COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Data includes age range, gender and location (by NSHA zone). Data is reported daily.
Provincial State of Emergency
On 22 March 2020, the Government of Nova Scotia declared a provincial state of emergency to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency has been extended until noon on 16 May 2021.
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 16 May 2021 (PDF 147 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 2 May 2021 (PDF 148 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 18 April 2021 (PDF 146 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 4 April 2021 (PDF 150 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 21 March 2021 (PDF 358 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 7 March 2021 (PDF 148 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 21 February 2021 (PDF 231 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 7 February 2021 (PDF 231 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 24 January 2021 (PDF 222 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 10 January 2021 (PDF 237 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 13 December 2020 (PDF 316 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 29 November 2020 (PDF 966 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 15 November 2020 (PDF 108 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 1 November 2020 (PDF 448 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 18 October 2020 (PDF 1.6 MB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 4 October 2020 (PDF 181 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 20 September 2020 (PDF 166 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 6 September 2020 (PDF 150 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 23 August 2020 (PDF 125 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 9 August 2020 (PDF 58 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 26 July 2020 (PDF 84 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 12 July 2020 (PDF 809 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 28 June 2020 (PDF 29 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 14 June 2020 (PDF 65 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 31 May 2020 (PDF 80 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 17 May 2020 (PDF 158 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 3 May 2020 (PDF 50 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 19 April 2020 (PDF 304 kB)
- Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency – 5 April 2020 (PDF 272 kB)
- Declaration of Provincial State of Emergency (PDF 42 kB)
Health Protection Act Order
To slow the spread of COVID-19, a Health Protection Act Order and public health measures are in effect, including:
- gathering limits
- social distancing guidelines – keep a physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from other people
- self-isolation requirements
- restrictions on travel to Nova Scotia
- business and service restrictions
See what the Health Protection Act Order means for Nova Scotia.
Protocols
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Child Custody Protocol (PDF 535 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Exempt Traveller Protocol (PDF 164 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Fish Harvester Protocol (PDF 488 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Nova Scotia-New Brunswick Travel Protocol (PDF 638 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Rotational Worker Protocol (PDF 82 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Specialized Worker Protocol (PDF 82 kB)
- Protocol Under the Authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – COVID-19 Temporary Foreign Workers Protocol: Agriculture and Seafood Sectors (PDF 148 kB)
Enforcing orders
In a state of emergency police are authorized to enforce orders under the Health Protection Act. If Nova Scotians, businesses and organizations do not follow gathering limits, social distancing guidelines and self-isolation requirements, they will face fines. Police can also enforce offences under the Emergency Management Act. Learn more: enforcement fines and who to call for help.
Restrictions and restriction updates
Public health directives are in place to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Learn more: restrictions and guidance.
The measures put in place to help contain the spread of COVID-19 are gradually changing. Keep up to date as restrictions change. As restrictions change, you need to continue to follow public health directives.
Directions and declarations
Health Authorities Act Directions
- Ministerial Directive – Redeployment of Nova Scotia Health Authority Staff (PDF 126 kB)
- Letter to NSHA Board Chair – Redeployment of NSHA Staff to Northwood Halifax Campus (PDF 125 kB)
Emergency Management Act Declaration and Orders
- Direction of Minister – Temporary Community Transition Unit – 30 November 2020 (PDF 313 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Authorization of Qualified Persons to Render Aid by Conducting COVID-19 Swabbing – 27 November 2020 (PDF 447 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Renoviction of Tenants and Rent Increase Cap - 25 November 2020 (PDF 43 kB)
- Direction of Minister to Partially Lift Earlier Direction – 24 June 2020 (PDF 34 kB)
- Direction of Minister to Partially Lift Earlier Direction – 15 May 2020 (PDF 696 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Liability Protection for Licensed Homes for Special Care – 22 September 2020 (PDF 244 kB)
- Direction of Minister under a Declared State of Emergency – 1 May 2020 (PDF 41 kB)
- Direction of Minister under a Declared State of Emergency (PDF 41 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Municipal Meetings – 29 July 2020 (PDF 87 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Municipal Meetings (PDF 50 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Municipal Public Transit (PDF 33 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Municipal Travel Restriction (PDF 886 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Shareholder or Member Meetings (PDF 51 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Shareholder or Member Meetings – original directive (PDF 52 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Village Elections – 20 August 2020 (PDF 177 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Village Elections – 26 May 2020 (PDF 86 kB)
- Direction of Minister – Village Elections (PDF 63 kB)
Police Act Order
Enforcing orders
In a state of emergency police are authorized to enforce orders under the Health Protection Act. If Nova Scotians, businesses and organizations do not follow gathering limits, social distancing guidelines and self-isolation requirements, they will face fines. Police can also enforce offences under the Emergency Management Act. Learn more: enforcement fines and who to call for help.
News releases
Latest COVID-19 news releases and announcements:
Videos and podcast
To help you stay informed, watch archived Government of Nova Scotia coronavirus (COVID-19) news conferences (webcasts) on YouTube (make sure to note the date of the video you’re watching). You can also listen to the Government of Nova Scotia COVID-19 Updates podcast.
Next coronavirus (COVID-19) news conference: Friday, 14 May 2021 at 1 pm
Healthcare and continuing care
The Government of Nova Scotia is working with healthcare and continuing care partners to increase health system capacity and control the spread of COVID-19. Learn more: how healthcare and continuing care are responding to COVID-19.