Nova Scotia’s premier and the province’s chief public officer of health say the mandatory use of masks in public buildings will create a “standard” for residents of the province despite the rule not being actively enforced.
Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s top doctor, said they are not downloading the enforcement of the mandatory mask rule onto front-line workers in restaurants or stores.
Instead, he said he believes the mandatory order will convince Nova Scotians that it is important for their health as well as the health of their friends, families and loved ones.
Friday was the first day of the province’s new rule around the mandatory use of masks in public buildings, which include retail businesses, shopping centres, restaurants and bars, places of worship, event and conference centres as well as common areas in office buildings.
Although the mask order will not be strictly enforced, Premier Stephen McNeil said the province can still issue fines under Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act.
It’s an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and ahead of any potential second wave of the virus.
When the mandatory masking rule was announced last week by Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, the premier called the move “the added protection we are going to require as we open ourselves up to the rest of the country.”
After a cabinet meeting Thursday, the premier said he had no date when Nova Scotia would open to provinces outside the Atlantic Bubble.
That hasn’t stopped speculation about the impending opening of the province.
However, on Friday McNeil said the decision remains a while off.
On Friday, the province announced two new cases of the virus, both of which are related to Nova Scotians who travelled outside Canada.
The individuals have been self-isolating since they returned to the province, health officials said in a press release.
The province says 1,003 cases are now considered resolved and as of Friday there are only two active cases in the province.
There have also been 64 COVID-19. related deaths in Nova Scotia.
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