Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he was “appalled” after a pastor downplayed his church’s role in a COVID-19 outbreak – calling his comments “unacceptable” and “totally disgusting.”
Robert Smith, the pastor of the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Amherst, N.S., has since been fined for the gathering, which took place from Oct. 25 to 29.
While proof of vaccination does not need to be checked during faith-based services, they are required for events such as this one.
The summary offence ticket, which was issued Wednesday, carries a fine of $2,422.
“To me, it’s not enough. We’ll be looking at changes to the level of fines,” Houston said during a news briefing on Wednesday.
Houston further went on to say he’s looking into whether other leaders at the church can be fined, or whether fines can be handed out for each day of an event.
The briefing comes on the heels of three deaths from the virus this week, which have been linked to ongoing transmission in those health zones as a result of the faith-based gathering in late October.
Since the gathering, COVID-19 has spread to other faith-based gatherings, workplaces and East Cumberland Lodge, a long-term care home in Pugwash. The home has since had 31 residents and 10 staff members test positive, with two of those infected residents passing away.
Smith said in a sermon livestreamed on Facebook Sunday that the three deaths were “unfortunate” but he was not ashamed of hosting the event because it was what God would have wanted him to do.
The church’s Facebook page has now been either taken down or made private.
“Like many of you, I am absolutely appalled at the comments of some of those who were allegedly involved in organizing this gathering. The comments downplaying the seriousness of what’s happening, the comments minimizing the loss of life are completely unacceptable and totally disgusting,” Houston said.
“Lives were lost. I can’t imagine that at this stage in the pandemic with the devastation we have seen to families, and to communities, that we have people who believe that they can pick and choose which rules to follow.”
While a person who went to the event told The Canadian Press the rules around vaccination were “unclear,” both Houston and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang said they have made the rules clear with faith communities.
Strang said he has met many times with faith leaders and has an email distribution list of “well over 100” people where he communicated the gathering rules for faith events.
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“There are some faith organizations that are very independent and, quite frankly, are very hard to communicate to,” he said.
“But we did everything we could to make sure the rules were very clear, and it was very clear this type of multi-day retreat absolutely required proof of vaccination to be applied and it wasn’t done.”
Strang also said he was “both angry and frustrated” by the COVID-19 situation in the province, as hospitalizations and ICU admissions rise.
“People chose not to get vaccinated, they gathered with both vaccinated and unvaccinated people against existing rules and these choices have had significant impacts upon others,” he said.
“I understand that no one intended for this to happen, but if we give COVID-19 a chance to spread it will, and as we know it can be deadly.”
New cases
The province reported 20 new cases and 36 recoveries on Wednesday.
Eight of the new cases were in Central Zone, six were in Northern Zone and six were in Western Zone.
There are 236 active cases in the province, with 17 people in hospital, including seven in ICU.
On Tuesday, four schools were notified of an exposure. They are:
- Oxford Regional Education Centre in Oxford
- Basinview Drive Commuinty School in Bedford
- Chebucto Heights Elementary in Halifax
- Millwood High School in Middle Sackville
Healthcare, education vaccination rate update
The province released its second update on the vaccination rates of workers in healthcare, long-term care, education and emergency health services on Wednesday.
Due to a vaccination mandate announced Sept. 29, employers are required to collect and report vaccination rates. The mandate covers more than 80,000 employees.
The mandate requires all employees to have at least the first dose of a vaccine by Nov. 30. Proof of full vaccination is needed 70 days after that first dose.
The province stated those who are partially vaccinated may be subjected to other safety measures, such as testing.
“Those who do not have a first dose by Nov. 30 will be placed on unpaid leave,” the province reiterated in a release.
The rates, based on employees who have reported, are:
- Nova Scotia Health Authority: 94 per cent vaccinated (up from 91 per cent) with 88 per cent reporting
- IWK Health Centre: 99 per cent (no change), with 99 per cent reporting
- Long-term care: 93 per cent (no change), with 89 per cent reporting
- Home care: 89 per cent (no change), with 78 per cent reporting
- Education: 97 per cent (no change), with 75 per cent reporting
- Emergency Health Services (EHS): 99 per cent (no change), with 88 per cent reporting
The latest data shows 80.6 per cent of Nova Scotians have now had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Beginning Nov. 23, Nova Scotians eligible for a booster dose of mRNA vaccine can schedule an appointment. Those eligible are anyone aged 70 and older, people who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and frontline workers who were double vaccinated with an interval of less than 28 days between doses.
Boosters can be booked six months after the second dose.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Strang gave a “huge thank-you” to those who answered the call and got vaccinated.
“To those who could be vaccinated but aren’t, who are focusing only on themselves, believing misinformation and false narratives, and more and more reacting with inappropriate anger, shame on you,” he said.
“You want to share in the benefits of Nova Scotia’s strong COVID response, but you are not willing to carry your share of the work.”
MLA tests positive for COVID-19
Public Works Minister Kim Masland also announced Wednesday that she has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
She said she’s fully vaccinated and at this time, she does not know how she contracted the virus.
“I will provide all of the information I can to public health and work with them to trace all of my contacts,” Masland said in a statement.
Masland became the MLA for Queens-Shelburne in 2017. She was re-elected in 2021.
She was tested last Thursday and received a negative result, but when she tested again on Monday, the result came back positive.
“This shows how contagious this virus is and how important it is to be vaccinated and follow public health measures. I am not feeling well, but thankfully my symptoms are mild and I know that the vaccine is preventing me from becoming seriously ill,” Masland said.
-With files from Aya Al-Hakim and Alex Cooke
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