Remaining COVID restrictions lift Wednesday

This means if you test positive for COVID-19, isolation will be strongly recommended, but not mandatory

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Grof

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On Wednesday, all remaining COVID-19 community restrictions in Nova Scotia will be lifted, with the exception of high-risk settings.

This means if you test positive, isolation will be strongly recommended, but it won’t be mandatory.

However, people will still need to follow their workplace occupational health policies if they are stricter than the general public health recommendations, including mandatory masking and isolation requirements.

Proof of vaccination will no longer be required to visit long-term care homes, corrections facilities, shelters and transition houses, and visitors won’t need to wear a mask in a private area or while outdoors.

People can still pick up rapid tests at public libraries and MLA offices, but if they get a positive result and are deemed low-risk, they will not receive a PCR confirmation test.

In a news release, Dr. Robert Strang said this is the right time to make this move.

“Although we expect to see smaller waves of COVID-19 variants over the summer, our high vaccine coverage and low risk of severe disease from Omicron variants make it manageable as we learn to live with COVID-19,” the province’s chief medical officer of health said in a news release. “That’s why we are removing the remaining COVID-19 restrictions for the general public.”

“The pandemic is not over. But Nova Scotians have the tools and resources to make the right decisions to keep each other safe.”

Also this month, the province will start doing a monthly COVID-19 report.

“The report will be produced on the 15th of every month and reflect the COVID-19 epidemiology in the province for the previous month,”  the province said. “The first monthly report will be for June and will be available on July 15.”

The COVID-19 dashboard will continue to be updated weekly.

As of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday :

Isolation

• isolation shifts from being mandatory to strongly recommended for people who test positive for COVID-19
• it is also strongly recommended that people who have symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or fever isolate until feeling better
• it is still important for people with symptoms to avoid high-risk settings and people at higher risk
• if a workplace has occupational health policies that are stricter than the general public health recommendations, such as mandatory masking or isolation requirements, people must continue to follow those policies.

Masks

• will shift from strongly recommended to optional
• masks are still strongly recommended for people who are ill or in a crowded indoor setting
• for people who have COVID-19 symptoms but cannot isolate, it is strongly recommended they wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public places, on public transit and crowded areas
• it is each person’s own decision whether to wear a mask, weighing their risk factors and comfort and those of people around them.

Testing

• people with symptoms will still have access to COVID-19 testing at testing centres across the province
• people with symptoms who are in a low-risk category in their self-assessment will have access to rapid tests only and will not receive a PCR test whether or not they test positive on a rapid test
• higher risk people and those who work or live in higher-risk congregate settings still have access to PCR testing, and it is still recommended
• Nova Scotia will no longer offer testing for those without COVID-19 symptoms
• rapid tests will continue to be available for pickup at public libraries and MLA offices, but people who are sick should not go.

Long-Term Care, Corrections Facilities, Shelters and Transition Houses

• to align with the policy at hospitals, designated caregivers and visitors will no longer need proof of vaccination to visit
• designated caregivers and visitors will be able to remove their masks when visiting in a private area or while outdoors
• seven-day isolation for residents who test positive for COVID-19 continues to be required.