Premier Tim Houston and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang announced at Wednesday’s COVID update the restrictions would come off in a phased approach.
The process will begin Monday February 28 when people will no longer have to show proof of vaccination for non-essential events like going to a gym or eating at a restaurant.
The second phase will begin the following week on March 7 when gathering limits will be increased for sporting events, arts and music performances and other formal gatherings.
Some businesses will be able to operate at full capacity at this point.
Restrictions will be fully lifted on March 21.
Strang says the phased approach will allow people who feel protected by the restrictions to ease into life without them.
“Restrictions played a necessary and important role in our response to COVID 19. They helped contain the spread of the virus in the first three waves before we had good vaccine coverage and they were critical in reducing the impact of the Delta and omicron waves,” said Strang. “But they were never meant to be a permanent solution. We always knew that they’d be lifted at some point and now it is time to move away from two years of crisis response and approach living with COVID in a long term and manageable manner.”
Houston praised Dr. Strang and the public health team for guiding Nova Scotians through the pandemic.
Premier Tim Houston at COVID briefing February 23, 2022. Photo Communications Nova Scotia
The premier acknowledged it wasn’t always easy and the restrictions caused rifts in relationships for friends and families.
He called on all Nova Scotians to work to repair those rifts.
“It's up to each of us to play a part in healing our communities. We can have different opinions on the path to return to normal, how fast, how slow, we can have different opinions on that,” said Houston. “But we need to get back to a place, a respectful place where we find ways to respectfully disagree. Where we find ways and places that we can constantly remember that at our very core, as Nova Scotians, as Bluenosers, we care about each other.”
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.