Nova Scotians will be required to wear masks indoors beginning July 31.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced the new measures alongside the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang at Friday’s COVID-19 update.

Strang said as he goes out and about he is seeing more people adopting mask use.

“I want to thank Nova Scotians who remain mindful of the public health measures that we all need to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are proving that we are capable of adapting to our new normal.”

Strang said the package of washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks is proven effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and in order to continue protecting each other, Nova Scotians need to become accustomed to wearing masks.

“Before the second wave of COVID arrives, and in all likelihood it is coming sometime in the fall, we need to be prepared," Strang said. "And part of that preparedness is making mask-wearing much more of a habit and making it the norm for most Nova Scotians.”

The new rules apply to any public spaces in buildings but not to private areas such as offices, classrooms, labs or residences.

Anyone going to a restaurant must wear a mask while entering, exiting or moving through the space.

Dr. Strang said diners don’t need to wear a mask while eating or drinking but they’re expected to remain seated at their own table and not move around the restaurant.

As was the case with mandatory mask use on buses, Dr. Strang said there are no penalties for those who choose not to wear a mask.

But not wearing a mask could limit a person’s ability to go where they please.

“I believe and I have confidence that the vast majority of Nova Scotians will do the right thing and will wear a mask when it’s required," Strang said. "People should also be aware that businesses have the right, themselves, to refuse entry or to refuse service to people who are not wearing a mask when they’re required to, but always with the allowance for the small number of people with valid reasons for not wearing a mask.”

While he wants everyone wearing masks, Strang encouraged Nova Scotians to be kind when dealing with someone who is not wearing one.

“If people see somebody who is not wearing a mask, don’t make a judgement. You don’t know what that person’s medical history is," Strang said. "You don’t know, maybe they have a disorder that they can’t wear a mask, so don’t make a judgement. We all need to support each other in a positive way. I really believe that if we follow that approach, that is how we are going to get people to cooperate with each other. Taking a strong, heavy-handed, enforcement approach is not going to work in something like this.”

Premier McNeil says wearing masks as part of a daily routine is the added protection required to open up the province to the rest of Canada.

“Opening up to the rest of the country is something we’re going to have to do," McNeil said. "We need to learn to live with COVID until there is a vaccine. We can’t stay closed forever. Our families need to reunite and our economy needs to ignite.”

McNeil acknowledged it’s not a popular move right now but pointed to the losses being felt in a tourism industry that is worth $2 billion annually to the province as reason to open our borders.

“I’m afraid if we don’t safely open up to the rest of Canada, most of our tourism businesses will have to shut down and they employ thousands of Nova Scotians across this province," McNeil said. "We can’t afford to lose the tourism industry.”

In a final note, McNeil asked Nova Scotians to find the courage to welcome their fellow Canadians back into the province.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson