Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced on Wednesday that the province will begin making “gradual changes” to ease COVID-19 restrictions.
“The reality is, the more we continue to let COVID continue to control our daily lives, the longer we will see the negative impacts, especially on our children and on our seniors,” he said during a news conference.
The province has already lifted some restrictions around sports, arts and culture and Houston has previously said he aims to lift more restrictions by mid-February.
Restrictions will be eased over three phases, starting on Feb. 14. Each phase will last about a month and moving on to the next phase will depend on epidemiology, hospitalizations, case activity in long-term care and employee absenteeism.
Masks will continue to be required in indoor public places throughout the first two phases and proof of vaccination will continue to be required for discretionary activities. These restrictions might continue in the third phase, depending on the epidemiology.
Phase 1
As of 12:01 a.m. Monday, sports, arts and culture events can resume, with participants limited to 60 indoors and outdoors. They will be able to have practices, training, regular league games, rehearsals and performances, but tournaments will not be allowed.
Spectators will be allowed, while following the formal gathering limit, which will be 50 per cent of capacity indoors and outdoors. Gathering limits for informal events will increase from 10 to 25.
Restaurants and gyms will be able to increase their capacity to 75 per cent, retail stores can operate at full capacity and cosmetologists can resume full service.
In schools, public health measures, like classroom cohorts and not allowing non-essential visitors, will remain in place, but singing and the use of wind instruments will be able to resume.
Long-term care residents will now be able to have any two visitors at a time, rather than the same two visitors.
And all border restrictions for domestic travellers entering Nova Scotia will be lifted, with no isolation requirements or need to fill in the Nova Scotia safe check-in form. International travellers will continue to follow federal rules.
Since the Omicron wave began on Dec. 8, 56 Nova Scotians have died. Houston extended his condolences to them during the news conference, but maintained that easing restrictions is the right move.
“We also know that more Canadians will continue to be lost to COVID-19 going forward, and that’s also heartbreaking,” he said.
“But we have to acknowledge the necessity of continuing to move forward.”
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Living with COVID-19
During the news conference, Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said he believes Nova Scotia is past the peak of the Omicron wave.
He said the province is seeing a decline in lab-based positive COVID-19 tests, as well as cases and outbreaks in long-term care. Hospitalizations are also past their peak.
“Trying to protect people is what we’ve been doing for two years. It’s why we’ve had restrictions and rules – things that have been frustrating but absolutely necessary,” said Strang.
“Today I’m optimistic that things are improving and I’m confident we are ready to start loosening restrictions.”
However, he acknowledged the strain on the health-care system, with bed occupancy “over 105 per cent.” Strang said that’s why the reopening plan is coming in phases rather than all at once, so the province can make adjustments if needed, based on the epidemiology.
“We will continue to carefully balance limiting the impact of Omicron on our most vulnerable in our health-care system while starting to get back to normal,” he said.
He said restrictions come with their own serious impacts, be it economic, social, mental or physical.
Strang added that the announcement of the reopening plan is in “no way” a response to the ongoing anti-mandate protests in Ottawa and across the country.
“Quite the contrary,” he said.
“It is based on following evolving science this entire pandemic. It’s built on the experience and the knowledge of the protection provided by vaccines. This is why we’re in a position to start to ease restrictions.”
Five deaths
On Wednesday, the province reported that five more people have died as a result of COVID-19: a woman in her 60s in the Northern Zone, a woman in her 70s in the Western Zone, a woman in her 80s in the Eastern Zone and two women in their 90s in the Central Zone.
Another eight people have been admitted to hospital since the last report and four people have been discharged.
There are currently 91 people in hospital who were admitted due to COVID-19 and are receiving specialized care in a COVID-19 unit, including 16 people in ICU.
Those in hospital range in age from zero to 95 years old. The average age is 63 and the average length of stay for people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 is 8.4 days.
Of those in hospital:
- 22 (24.2 per cent) have had three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine;
- 32 (35.2 per cent) are fully vaccinated with two doses;
- One (1.1 per cent) is partially vaccinated;
- 36 (39.6 per cent) are unvaccinated.
“It is important to note that less than 10 per cent of Nova Scotians are unvaccinated,” the province said in a release.
In addition to those hospitalized for COVID-19, there are 135 other people who were identified as positive upon arrival to hospital but were admitted for another medical reason, or were admitted for COVID-19 but no longer require specialized care.
An additional 141 people contracted COVID-19 after being admitted to hospital.
The province also reported an outbreak at the Seaview Manor long-term care home in Glace Bay, where six staff members tested positive.
“Public health is working with the facilities to prevent further spread,” the release said. “Increased public health measures and restrictions are in place.”
According to the province, 91.5 per cent of Nova Scotians have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 85 per cent have received their second dose, and 58.6 per cent of those 18 and older have received a booster dose.
Boosters for children
In a separate release Wednesday morning, the province said it is now recommending a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 12 to 17 who are at a higher risk of severe illness.
This comes following a recommendation by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization for people in that age group who:
- Have an underlying medical condition that might put them at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, including those who are immunocompromised;
- Are residents of congregate living settings, like shelters, group homes, quarters for migrant workers and correctional facilities;
- Belong to racialized or marginalized communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Booster doses are administered 168 days after a two-dose primary series. However, the primary series for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised is three doses, so for adolescents who are immunocompromised, this would be their fourth dose.
“The majority of adolescents 12 to 17 in Nova Scotia do not need a booster dose as they are at low risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes if they are fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “However, for some, the benefit of receiving a booster dose ahead of further approvals outweighs the risk of getting COVID-19.”
The release said booster doses in this age group are currently considered “off-label” because Health Canada has not yet approved the vaccine for use in this age group.
“However, NACI says preliminary findings from booster doses in adolescents in other parts of the world show no different safety concerns than those from the primary series of vaccine,” the release said. “NACI also says the Pfizer booster dose is preferred for this age group.”
It said families with children 12 to 17 who do not fall into the above groups are also eligible for boosters with informed consent.
“They will need to review the information provided during the booking process about booster doses in this age group, including the rare risk of myocarditis and pericarditis following a dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine,” it said. “Evidence shows adolescents remain well protected against severe COVID-19 and hospitalization with two doses of vaccine.”
According to the province, about 98 per cent of people 12 to 17 years old have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a second dose appointment scheduled.
There was also a “strong” recommendation from NACI for third doses for children aged five to 11 who are “moderately to severely immunocompromised at the time of their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.”
“They are now eligible for a third dose of vaccine to complete their primary series. A third dose can be booked 56 days after the second dose,” it said.
As well, NACI has new advice for people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Those who tested positive and have not been fully vaccinated are advised to wait at least two months to get a first or second dose of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, those who tested positive and have been fully vaccinated are advised to wait at least three months to get a booster dose, “provided they have been fully vaccinated for at least 168 days and are eligible for a booster.”
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