Nova Scotia is loosening event gathering rules as the number of COVID-19 cases continued to be low in the province.
Effective Monday, the gathering limit has been increased to 100 people indoors and 150 outdoors for events held by recognized businesses and organizations.
"We will be cautiously loosening some restrictions," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, at a news briefing with Premier Stephen McNeil on Friday.
He said these changes will stay in effect until March 7 unless the case numbers increase:
- retail businesses can operate at 75 per cent capacity
- fitness facilities can operate at 75 per cent capacity and must maintain three metres between people during high-intensity activities both indoors and outdoors
- recognized businesses and organizations can resume hosting events with 150 people outdoors, or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity to a maximum of 100 indoors
- these events must stop any food or alcohol service by 10 p.m. and end by 11 p.m.
- these events include social events, arts and culture events, sport and recreation events, special events, festivals, faith gatherings, weddings with receptions, and funerals with visitation and receptions
- 'these events include bingo, darts and other similar activities hosted by licensed and unlicensed establishments
- these gathering limits also apply to meetings and training hosted by private businesses or organizations, provincial and municipal government, first responder organizations, mental health and addictions support groups, and organized clubs
- organized clubs can host activities for all ages and follow the day camp guidelines to have cohorts of up to 15 within the larger indoor or outdoor gathering limit
- spectators are allowed at events, including sports games and practices and arts and culture rehearsals and performances, except when they are held at schools
- large facilities such as Centre 200 in Sydney and Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, which already have approved plans, can resume hosting events with multiple groups of 100 that are kept separate with their own entrances and exits and their own washrooms
No changes to hours
There is no change to hours for restaurants and licensed establishments. They must stop service at 10 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. There will be no exceptions to close later when there are special sports events, such as the Super Bowl. These hours also apply to all types of gatherings hosted by recognized businesses and organizations as appropriate.Sports teams and individual competitors are still restricted to playing and competing with other teams and people with whom they routinely play or compete.
The general gathering limit remains at 10 – this applies to household and informal gatherings and events that are not hosted by a recognized business or organization.
"We're opening up lots of gatherings in lots of different ways," Strang said at the briefing. "But what we know is the highest risk type of gathering is a social gathering, especially late at night when alcohol and other substances may be involved. We know over and over again this is the kind of things that can create substantive super-spreader events."
He cautioned that as we start to be more social again with events, it’s important for Nova Scotians to continue all the layers of protection – wash hands, wear masks, practise physical distance, stay home when you’re sick, and get tested.
He singled out the importance of wearing a mask when answering the door to receive a delivery.
“If there is a delivery being made to your home or apartment, please put on a mask when you answer the door,” he said. “This quick and easy step will bring peace of mind to those people working to bring goods to you and will help keep both of you safe.”
No new cases
On Friday, Nova Scotia reported no new COVID-19 cases and the number of active cases dropped by two to eight, which is the lowest it's been since late October. There are six active cases in the central health zone and one each in the western and eastern zones.
Get tested and help limit COVID-19 spread in our communities.
— Nova Scotia Health (@HealthNS) February 5, 2021
The Public Health Mobile Units are at the Lunenburg Fire Department Auditorium until 5 p.m. today (Feb. 5)
and in Pictou on Saturday and Sunday at the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 16 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. pic.twitter.com/WzpKiKgntk
Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 1,681 Nova Scotia tests on Thursday and there were 686 tests administered between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4 at rapid-testing pop-up sites in Antigonish, Halifax and Truro.
Since Oct. 1, Nova Scotia has completed 167,755 tests. There have been 495 positive COVID-19 cases and no deaths. Two people are in hospital, including one in ICU. Cases range in age from under 10 to over 70. Four hundred and eighty-seven cases are resolved.
McNeil to keep briefing for now
The premier, who announced in August that he’s leaving politics, noted it was his 96th COVID-19 briefing with Strang since the pandemic began 11 months ago. McNeil said he will continue with the briefings until the new premier is sworn in.
The Liberals will hold a leadership convention Saturday.
“I want to thank you for your support, your guidance and most of all your friendship as we’ve found our way through this,” McNeil told Strang.
Two fined at illegal party
Two people were each fined $1,000 for breaking gathering limit rules at a party in Halifax on Thursday evening.
Halifax Regional Police received a report at 10:45 p.m. about a gathering that exceeded the provincially mandated maximum of 10 people.
Officers issued summary offence tickets to two men for the violation of the Health Protection Act.
"We strongly advise members of the public to educate and re-educate themselves on these public health directives and COVID-19 enforcement measures, including, those related to illegal gatherings and associated fines," HRP said in a news release Friday.
Information on the penalties for violating public health directives can be found here.Nova Scotia's COVID-19 activity has been low in recent weeks with only one new case per day over the past four days. The latest case numbers will be released this afternoon.
