Nova Scotia is moving to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions this week, including the mandatory self-isolation period for those who test positive.
Dr Robert Strang, the province’s medical health director, said it was the “right time” to remove the remaining rules because vaccine coverage is high and the risk of serious illness from Omicron variants is low. He said, however, that he expects “smaller waves” of virus activity during the summer.
Read more: COVID-19: Nova Scotia reports four more deaths in the weekly report
The change is made on Wednesday.
“COVID is not leaving. We will have a certain level of COVID virus with us in the foreseeable future,” he told reporters during a virtual briefing on Monday.
“Our response to the beginning of the pandemic was necessarily very strict because we were dealing with something of which we knew virtually nothing. Also, we had no underlying immunity. So it was a pandemic and there is no underlying immunity at all. the world. For two years, we learned a lot and a lot about the virus. “
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He added that “virtually every other province” has taken this step weeks ahead of Nova Scotia. “Does that mean there will be some people (who) are at higher risk and there will be some people who die from COVID? Yes,” Strang said.
“There are people who die every year from the flu. And no … I don’t want to underestimate that at all. But this is a reality, that very tight measures that focus only on COVID are not sustainable or realistic in the long run. “
He said health officials will continue to monitor epidemiology in the province and “work hard to achieve the right balance.” If there are resurgences of virus activity, either in the summer or fall, your team would make recommendations for appropriate health measures.
Mandatory isolation ends, masking “optional”
As of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, isolation will go from being “mandatory” to “highly recommended” for people who test positive for COVID-19 and those who show symptoms. Currently, people with COVID-19 should self-isolate for seven days from the positive test or the onset of symptoms.
“It is still important for people with symptoms to avoid high-risk environments and people at higher risk,” a statement from the province read.
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Strang said he does not expect the abandonment of mandatory self-isolation to lead to an increase in infections.
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“I don’t see how this will substantially change things, even though it’s been mandatory,” he said.
“(Self-isolation) has really been left to people. We haven’t enforced it. Now it’s very difficult to enforce it. So all the time, the Nova Scotians have really been asked to do the right thing.”
People are asked to continue to follow occupational health policies in the workplace, which may have stricter rules than general public health recommendations. This could include mandatory masking or insulation requirements.
In addition, most restrictions will be maintained in high-risk environments, such as health facilities.
Read more: Neo-Scots aged 50 or older will be able to receive a second booster dose of COVID-19
This date will also come into force, the instructions on the use of masks will go from “highly recommended” to “optional”, although they are still strongly recommended for those sick or in a crowded outdoor environment.
It is also strongly recommended that those who have symptoms of COVID-19 but are unable to isolate themselves wear a tight-fitting mask in indoor public places, on public transportation, and in crowded areas.
“It is up to each person to decide whether to wear a mask, weighing their risk and comfort factors and those of the people around them,” the statement said.
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High risk tests and configurations
The province said those with symptoms will still have access to COVID-19 testing at centers across the province, but testing will no longer be offered to those without symptoms.
In addition, those with symptoms who are in a low-risk category in their self-assessment will only have access to rapid tests and will not get a PCR test, even if they test positive on a fast test.
People at higher risk and those who work or live in a higher-risk congregated environment can still access PCR testing.
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Rapid tests will continue to be available for collection at public libraries and MLA offices, but patients should not go, according to the statement.
In addition, designated visitors and caregivers in long-term care settings, corrections, and shelters and transition homes will no longer need a vaccination test to visit them. Masks can also be removed when visiting a private or outdoor area.
Seven-day isolation for residents who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required, according to the statement, and the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination protocol for high-risk environments remains in place.
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Switch to monthly reports
In addition, starting this month, the province will move to a monthly COVID-19 report, which will be published online. The province had been producing weekly reports since March and daily updates before then.
“The report will be produced on the 15th of each month and will reflect the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the province during the previous month,” Monday’s statement said.
“The first monthly report will be for June and will be available on July 15.”
The COVID-19 control panel will continue to be updated weekly, the province added.
In its latest weekly report last Thursday, Nova Scotia reported four COVID-19-related deaths, 1,491 new laboratory-confirmed cases and 28 hospitalizations.
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