COVID-19 precaution posters meet visitors to non-essential services at the door. Photo Ed Halverson

The latest COVID-19 proof of vaccine requirements is causing headaches at Queens Place Emera Centre.

Beginning Monday October 4 Nova Scotians wishing to enter any non-essential businesses, including gyms, arenas and fitness studios, will have to show they’ve been vaccinated by showing a picture ID and a proof of vaccination record.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the region doesn’t have the staff at the facility to perform the checks and are currently trying to hire people to do the job.

“We need to hire six to eight people, maybe more, if people are part-time. But we can’t have someone working on desk, and every time someone wants to come in the person leaves their desk and runs to a door,” said Norman.

In Wednesday’s COVID briefing Dr. Robert Strang said known members of a club or gym won’t have to continually show picture ID but will have to present proof of vaccine each time they enter.

Norman says the money to hire the staff at Queens Place is coming out of emergency COVID funding the province provided to help municipalities offset additional expenses they were facing as a result of the pandemic.

She is concerned about the ability to check crowds at larger events held at Queens Place such as hockey games and the upcoming Canada curling qualifiers.

Norman is grateful the Region of Queens doesn’t have to find money from its budget for the new position but worries about other non-profit community groups who may not have the resources to meet the new proof of vaccine standards.

“I think of all the facilities, the rinks that are owned by not-for–profit organizations,” said Norman. “They weren’t given the big chunk of COVID money. It’s going to be a struggle.”

She worries smaller community rinks and their volunteers won’t be able to cope with the volume of participants, family and spectators that come along with events such as hockey tournaments.

Premier Tim Houston says based on conversations government has had with business owners, he doesn’t anticipate any issues with the proof of vaccine checks in their establishments that would require more government support.

However, this is the first time he’s heard non-for-profits may struggle to meet the requirements.

“We haven’t made that decision to provide support yet. We’ll wait for some feedback. You’re raising something there that I haven’t heard, I haven’t heard from a certain type of organization… I’m not at the point where I’m saying there’s some funding that is necessary. But we’ll listen to those specific situations, like you’ve just raised and see if there’s something that is necessary,” said Houston.

As for Queens Place, Norman says they have posted the available positions on the usual job posting sites. Anyone interested in applying can also reach out to Queens Place directly.

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Dr. Robert Strang provides COVID-19 update with Premier Tim Houston and Health Minister Michelle Thompson. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s phase 5 reopening plan will see social distancing and gathering limits lifted for businesses but will require healthcare workers and school employees to be vaccinated.

If those employees aren’t vaccinated by November 30, they could be put on unpaid administrative leave and could eventually be fired.

In the technical briefing ahead of Wednesday’s COVID update, Dr. Robert Strang stressed the importance of vaccination.

“If you’re caring for somebody, whether it’s in a hospital [or] long-term care facility. If you’re teaching somebody, who, because of their age can’t be vaccinated, you have an obligation to get vaccinated so you can do your job safely,” said Strang.

Beginning Monday October 4, anyone wishing to enter a non-essential business or activity will need to show proof of vaccination.

Those include full-service restaurants and bars, gyms or indoor sporting events.

People will not be asked to show proof of vaccination at essential services such as retail stores, banks, hair salons, doctor’s offices, hotels or faith services.

For a complete list of where proof of vaccination will or won’t be required, follow this link.

When asked if requiring proof of vaccination to fully participate in the reopening was a way to encourage more people to get vaccinated Strang says that is not the intent of the regulations, but is a welcome side-effect.

“Right now the way we look after each other or the main way in a pandemic, is to get vaccinated because that protects everyone else around us. I’m sorry if people don’t like that but you have an obligation to care for your neighbour. Care for the healthcare worker who’s going to be there for you if you get sick,” said Strang. “I won’t apologize for having to take these strong measures to get to the level of safety that we need to have.”

Nova Scotians who received their vaccinations in the province can obtain a copy of their record digitally by visiting the Nova Scotia government coronavirus web page.

That record will be updated October 4 to include a QR code.

Businesses will be able to download an app on October 22, which will read the code and simply show a green check or red X to indicate if a person is vaccinated without revealing any further personal information.

At Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Premier Tim Houston took a decidedly different tone from past efforts to convince Nova Scotians to get vaccinated.

Premier Tim Houston. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

After thanking the majority of Nova Scotians who have been vaccinated, Houston spoke to some of the 60,000 who are eligible but have yet to get their shots.

“Some of you don’t want to and I also know that you want to convince me that there is a reason not to get vaccinated. But let me be very clear, I don’t agree with you,” said Houston. “No matter how many YouTube videos or conspiracy theories from so-called experts that you send to me, we will not agree. Getting vaccinated is important. For the sake of those around you, please, please, get vaccinated.”

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Premier Designate Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang provide a COVID update August 23. Photo Nova Scotia Government

Students may only have to wear masks for a week once schools open across the province on September 7.

Premier Designate Tim Houston and Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang announced the schools reopening plan Monday.

Students will be required to mask up for the first week but with the province projected to move into the fifth phase of the COVID reopening plan on September 15, that requirement could be short-lived.

Phase five of the reopening plan assumes the epidemiology is good and 75 percent of Nova Scotians will have received their second doses of vaccine.

Strang says as a result, rules around mandatory masks and social distancing will be lifted.

“I’m sure there are mixed views on this. Some will be thrilled to get rid of masks and others will be nervous to stop wearing them and that’s totally normal. It’s time to start living more with COVID,” said Strang. “Even if we see rising case numbers that would have previously meant province-wide restrictions, our vaccine coverage means that we can carry on with only border restrictions and maybe, if necessary, targeted local restrictions.”

Despite the impending easing of restrictions, Strang says it’s not time for Nova Scotians to let their guard down.

“But we also need to keep practicing the good habits that help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and quite frankly, will also help reduce the spread of influenza and a range of other organisms that cause other respiratory and other gastro-intestinal illnesses. So staying home when you’re sick, washing your hands regularly, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces are important whether restrictions are in place or not,” said Strang.

He added, Nova Scotians need to accept that a fourth wave of COVID is coming.

“We will get the fourth wave here. We will get some cases. We may get little clusters in unvaccinated populations,” said Strang. “How we minimize the impact of the fourth wave, it really is, the key driver there is our vaccination rate.”

Dr. Strang was also asked how businesses can restrict admittance to individuals based on their vaccination status.

The chief medical officer of health says he has been advising private businesses to ensure that whatever policy they decide to put in place does not discriminate against people or infringe on their rights.

In his first appearance at a COVID briefing since winning a majority in last week’s election Houston echoed Strang’s remarks and added his government will not be issuing vaccine passports.

“There was some talk towards the end of the campaign about a scotia-pass concept. That was not something that bubbled up from public health,” said Houston. “So the province is contemplating phase five re-opening with restrictions removed.”

Premier Designate Tim Houston appearing at his first COVID briefing August 23. Photo Nova Scotia Government

Houston also announced that due to a steep uptick in the number of COVID cases over the past couple of weeks, anyone travelling from New Brunswick who has not been double vaccinated will have to quarantine, beginning Wednesday.

Houston says his government plans to continue to follow public health advice in order to make the best decisions for Nova Scotia around COVID.

“The reality is being cautious has kept this province safe and we will continue to be cautious.”

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