The province has announced the three-phase plan to roll out COVID-19 vaccination across Nova Scotia.

The first phase, which is currently underway, will vaccinate 200,000 people including frontline healthcare workers, staff and residents in long-term care and seniors living in the community, beginning with those over 80 years old.

Phase 2 is expected to start in May and will include remaining health-care and essential workers.

Anyone not included in the first two phases will begin receiving vaccinations when Phase 3 gets underway this summer.

Premier Stephen McNeil and the province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang praised Nova Scotians for abiding by the public health guidelines over the holidays.

As of Monday, there are 19 active cases in Nova Scotia, including three new cases in the central zone.

Strang says the early indications are looking good, but that praise was tempered with caution as the coronavirus is currently present in every health zone across the province.

He raised concerns about stigmatizing Nova Scotians travelling from other parts of the province, particularly people travelling from Halifax.

“I know there is fear and anxiety out there around COVID-19 and I know that people are trying to keep themselves, their families and communities safe. But I also know that shaming and blaming people does not prevent the spread of COVID-19," Strang said.

Strang said there is no reason why any Nova Scotian should be turned away or denied service.

“Shaming and blaming creates stigma. It drives people underground and when we drive them underground we lose our ability to work with them and help keep our communities safe, entirely," he added.

Strang said it’s unrealistic to expect there will be no cases of COVID-19.

But on the plus side, he said by the time the second phase is underway, Nova Scotians can expect 10,000 immunizations will be administered each day.

In the meantime, the chief medical officer of health said everyone must continue to carry on following the health protocols we all know so well including frequent hand washing, wearing a mask and social distancing.

But at the same time, Strang said people must be understanding if they see someone not following the guidelines as no one knows what that person may be going through in their own life.

“We don’t know what other battles and challenges people may be having as they deal with COVID along with all sorts of other issues that we have. So we need to be caring to our neighbours," he said. "We need to have compassion for people in our communities, even if they may be a case of COVID or may be identified as a contact, we don’t know their story. And we need to be good to one another. So that’s the energy I’m taking into 2021 and I ask you to do the same: caring, compassion, building up community, not blaming and shaming.”

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