Premier-designate Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health, provided a COVID-19 update today, August 23rd, 2021.
- State of Emergency has been extended to Sept. 5, 2021
- Today, Aug. 23, Nova Scotia is reporting 17 new cases of COVID-19 since the last update on Aug. 20
UPDATED - 31 new cases reported on Aug. 30, total active cases 71
- Nova Scotia is targeting Sept. 15 as the start of the next phase of its reopening plan
- To start Phase 5, 75% of the population should be fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine
- Currently, COVID-19 activity remains low across the province and about 70 per cent of Nova Scotians have had two doses of vaccine. Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not moved up their second-dose appointment is encouraged to do so.
Overview:
Plans for a Safe School Year
Students return to school on Sept. 7 with core public health measures in place and a return to a more familiar routine.
Nova Scotia’s Back to School Plan requires a commitment to vaccination and staying home if unwell, as well as ongoing hand sanitization, use of masks and continued cleaning of high-touch surfaces. Additional public health measures will be introduced if COVID-19 case numbers rise.
Read the full back to school plan.
Border Policy Remains, Other Restrictions to be Lifted for Phase 5
Nova Scotia is targeting Sept. 15 as the start of the next phase of its reopening plan. Phase 5 will see border measures continue while most other public health restrictions are lifted.
“My main priority is to work with public health to continue to protect Nova Scotians in what we all hope are the final months of this pandemic,” said premier-designate Tim Houston. “For now, living with COVID-19 means leaving border policies in place through the fall while lifting most other restrictions. The requirement to self-isolate after travel has been the main line of defence to protect Nova Scotians from COVID-19 and that won’t change for travellers who are not fully vaccinated.”
As of Sept. 15, the only restrictions that will remain in place for the general population within Nova Scotia are those related to management of COVID-19 cases. For example, anyone with symptoms must still get tested, isolate while they wait for results and continue to isolate if they test positive.
Read the full news release.
Symptoms and self-assessment:
Nova Scotians should visit
https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-
assessment if in the past 48 hours they have had or are currently experiencing mild symptoms, including:
- fever (i.e. chills/sweats) or cough (new or worsening)
- sore throat
- runny nose/nasal congestion
- headache
- shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
People should call 811 if they cannot access the online self-assessment or wish to speak with a nurse about their symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should immediately self-isolate and book a test.
Additional Resources:
