Phase 2 of Nova Scotia Reopening; Changes in Testing, Contact and Case Management

Nova Scotians will see COVID-19 restrictions ease further and an evolving approach to testing and case and contact management starting next week.

At 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 7, Phase 2 of the Province’s reopening plan begins. The main changes are increases in gathering and capacity limits. Details on Phase 2 can be found here: https://novascotia.ca/reopening-plan/phase-two/

Nova Scotia is also recommending the use of rapid tests to help protect people at increased risk of severe disease. People who are older or immunocompromised and those who live with them or are around them are encouraged to do occasional or regular rapid testing, even if they don’t have symptoms.

“Epidemiology is improving and restrictions are gradually lifting, but the pandemic is not over and we need to continue to evolve our testing strategy,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia. “Through the Omicron wave, rapid tests were used mainly to diagnose COVID-19 among close contacts and people with symptoms. We are now encouraging Nova Scotians to also use rapid tests as a way to help protect vulnerable people in our communities as we move toward a state of living with COVID-19.”

Nova Scotians can also protect themselves and the vulnerable people in their circles by continuing to follow other precautions like staying home when sick, wearing masks, practising good hand hygiene and physical distance, and carefully choosing activities and social groups.

Rapid tests continue to be available in communities at pop-up sites, family resource centres and some libraries. More information is available at: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-rapid-testing. Community distribution will be further expanded in the coming weeks.

People who have symptoms or wish to get tested as household contacts should continue to complete the online self-assessment and book appointments for either PCR tests or to pick up rapid tests as directed at: https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en

Changes to the isolation requirements for people with COVID-19 and their contacts will also take effect on Monday:

People who test positive

Regardless of age or vaccination status, people who test positive will need to isolate for seven days from when their symptoms began (or from the date of their positive test if they did not have symptoms). They can stop isolating on the eighth day as long as they don’t have symptoms or symptoms are improving and they’ve had no fever for 24 hours. They will no longer be asked to notify any contacts outside their homes.