The Province of Nova Scotia has released the Order By the Medical Officer of Health Under Section 32 of the Health Protection Act. This Order details the specific requirements for residents and businesses to follow during the current COVID-19 Pandemic.
Several updates have been made to this order since first coming into effect in July of 2020, and remains in effect currently. This order includes several details and requirements around the need for social distancing, how many individuals can be in immediate proximity to each other, and how this affects businesses, events, and personal gatherings.
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When worn properly, non-medical masks can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. Your mask can be a commercial non-medical mask or a homemade mask that covers your nose and mouth. A face shield can’t be worn instead of a non-medical mask (face shields protect your eyes, but don’t protect other people).
Using a mask alone isn’t enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You should also make sure to keep your hands clean, follow cough and sneeze etiquette and social distancing guidelines and stay home if you’re feeling sick.
Wearing a non-medical mask is required in most indoor public places and some outdoor public places. Children under 2 are exempt, as well as children 2 to 4 when their caregiver can’t get them to wear a mask. People with a valid medical reason for not wearing a mask are also exempt. Schools, day cares and day camps continue to follow their sector-specific plans.
Public places include:
A business or government official can ask you to remove your mask for identification purposes (you can remove it momentarily for this reason).
All passengers and drivers on public transportation are required to wear non-medical masks. Children under 2 are exempt, as well as children 2 to 4 when their caregiver can’t get them to wear a mask. People with a valid medical reason for not wearing a mask are also exempt.
Public transportation includes:
All businesses, organizations and workplaces need to follow the Health Protection Act Order and their sector-specific plans, including any additional mask requirements for areas that are not accessed by the public. They can choose to refuse entry or service to people who are not wearing a non-medical mask, unless they’re exempt from wearing a mask.
Wearing a non-medical mask is required at private indoor workplaces (like offices or warehouses) in all common areas, places where there’s interaction with the public, areas with poor ventilation and areas where people can’t maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others.
Businesses, organizations and workplaces where masks are required under the Health Protection Act Order are encouraged to post a Face Mask Required Sign (PDF) to let customers and clients know that masks are mandatory.
You can remove your mask momentarily for identification purposes.
Wearing a mask helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and helps protect people who are around you. There are very few medical reasons not to wear a mask. Wearing a mask doesn’t worsen chronic lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
You should wear a non-medical mask unless you have a medical reason for not wearing a mask (like people with cognitive or developmental disabilities who can’t wear a mask). Children under the age of 2 shouldn’t wear a mask.
If you have chronic breathing problems or a mental health condition that creates anxiety, you may be able to work on ways to overcome the anxiety (like wearing a mask for short periods of time at home). You can try different types of masks and choose one you’re comfortable with. You can also talk to a doctor or pharmacist about it.
You may need to help your child get used to wearing a mask (like wearing a mask for short periods of time at home, putting a mask on a stuffed animal and showing your child how they look in their mask).
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The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety has developed a variety of free tip sheets as guidance while operating during a pandemic, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Each document offers health and safety tips and good practices, for both employers and workers, specific to each industry or sector. Organizations and businesses can adopt this guidance to protect their workers and prevent the spread of infections. The tip sheets cover a range of occupations and industries from construction and trucking to healthcare and daycares.
The Government of Nova Scotia has created a workplace prevention plan to help guide businesses in preparing their own plan.
The Government of Nova Scotia has created a best practices poster for social distancing and guidelines to live by in order to keep safe and healthy while social distancing.
The poster is available in English, French, Mi’kmaw, Arabic, and Chinese.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada has developed a resource poster for individuals to assess how they are doing, and some tips on how to cope.
The NS Labour Standards Code provides job protection for employees who are unable to perform work due to an emergency as defined under the Code. Emergency includes a direction or order of a medical officer − or a public health emergency declared − under the Health Protection Act. Emergency leave extends to individuals who need to care for a family member affected by an order or direction under that Act. Those who have specific questions about pay, job security and layoffs should contact the department’s Labour Standards Division.
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a shift in the way many of us work and will continue to transform how we focus on workplace safety over the months ahead. The Workers’ Compensation Board has a number of materials available online to help employers communicate work safety during the COVID pandemic.
Construction Safety Nova Scotia has developed a tool kit is to provide recommendations and resources to the construction industry for operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with Nova Scotia’s Health Protection Act.
Build Right Nova Scotia has developed a COVID-19 Safety and Prevention Measures Guide to help businesses and employees ensure safe work procedures are developed and followed in relation to working during the pandemic.
As Canada’s industries return to work, there is an increased demand for PPE. The Rapid Response Platform automatically matches supply with demand, simplifying supplier discovery during the procurement process.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has compiled a thorough Frequently Asked Questions list around understanding Mortgage Payment Deferral for Canadian homeowners. Homeowners facing financial stress may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral up to 6 months to help ease the financial burden and application can be made at any time during this outbreak.
The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia has also developed a Safety and Prevention Measures document to guide businesses in protecting workers, their families, and the community from possible infection and illness.
P&G Professional developed a document to provide cleaning and disinfecting information, guidelines, and hygienic practices that may be necessary to reopen a hospitality establishment during COVID-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a global COVID-19 Dashboard, which shares the progression of the virus globally. They have also developed technical guidance and advice for how to live with and manage the novel Coronavirus.