Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia Dr. Robert Strang. Photo credit Nova Scotia Government

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 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.”

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. 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

Dr. Robert Strang and Premier Stephen McNeil announce new COVID restrictions for Christmas. Photo: Nova Scotia Government

Nova Scotia will have new COVID-19 restrictions beginning December 21 but family members will be allowed to visit over the holidays.

Premier Stephen McNeil says while they are relaxing some restrictions to allow relatives to travel, it’s important people still follow COVID protocols.

“You can travel from A to B. Which essentially means, if your family lives in a different community you can go visit your family at Christmas. You can have up to 10 people, total in your gathering,” said McNeil. “When you get there, stay there. We’re doing this because we know how important it is for families to be together at this time.”

Long-term care residents will have their restrictions eased to allow two designated caregivers to visit. Facilities can also allow a limited number of visitors

A number of new restrictions are coming into place.

Social or special events, festivals, arts/cultural events and sports events are all cancelled.

Faith gatherings, wedding ceremonies and funeral services up to a maximum of 150 people outdoors or 100 indoors are allowed but wedding and funeral receptions are not.

People can gather in groups of up to 10 in their homes, including the people who live there.

They can also gather with up to 10 people in a close social group.

Restaurants and licensed establishments must stop service by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m.

Fitness and sport and recreation facilities can open but must restrict the number and proximity of participants.

Retail and shopping mall rules currently in place for areas of HRM and Hants County will extend to the entire province, including operating at 25 per cent of their capacity.

A complete list of the new restrictions is available at this link.

The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang says now is not the time to undo all the good work we’ve done just so we can enjoy a holiday they way we are used to.

“We’ll get back there. I’ve said it before, I’d like to have everybody who is here today in Nova Scotia be around next year in Nova Scotia to celebrate Christmas in a different way, to celebrate our holidays in a different way. But to do that, we need to make sure that we’re all safe so we don’t lose people along the way.”

Strang and McNeil were present as the first group of Nova Scotians received the COVID-19 vaccinations in Halifax Wednesday.

Strang said the amount of collaboration that took place to enable this to happen is moving for so many.

“Three weeks ago we weren’t sure how we were going to do the vaccination. We’ve come so far in three weeks. And to see, both in the health system and across government, everybody put up their hand and say what can I do to help?”

Strang reminded people that getting vaccination to every Nova Scotian who wants it will be a long road and COVID restrictions need to be stay in place in the meantime.

He recognizes people are getting tired but he hopes they can take inspiration from the sacrifice of others.

“Think about the healthcare workers in this province who are willing to say, I’m not going to have Christmas with my family like I had planned because I need to be there helping people get immunized. They are there, sacrificing for you. What we are asking the people to follow is not too much to ask given what other people are doing to help you be safe.”

The new restrictions come into effect December 21 and will remain in place until January 10.

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

COVID-19 immunization clinic setting up. Photo: Nova Scotia Government

Nova Scotia has received the first 1,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Starting Wednesday, December 16, the first immunization clinic will be open in Halifax for those working in COVID-19 units in hospitals, emergency departments, critical care units, birth and early labour units at the IWK Health Centre and regional care units.

Once frontline healthcare workers receive their vaccinations, long term care residents and staff will be next in line followed by Nova Scotians over the age of 80.

Deputy chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed says healthcare workers were bumped to the front of the line because the number of long-term care staff and residents greatly exceeds the number of initial doses in the province.

“We don’t want to waste the vaccine. We don’t want to let it sit and wait until we accumulate more. Let’s start, at least with the healthcare workers who can come to it and continue to figure out how we work on getting it out to long-term care facilities,” said Watson-Creed.

The vaccine is being stored in a super-cold freezer at Dalhousie University. It must be kept at -70 degrees Celsius during transport, which is why, for now those looking to be vaccinated must come to Halifax.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority is working to find freezer units and appropriate spaces to set up distribution points around the province.

Two doses are required for someone to be effectively vaccinated so the province will be holding back half of the 1,950 doses on hand to ensure everyone being vaccinated can receive the proper amount.

The person in charge of COVID-19 Planning and Implementation for the Nova Scotia Health Authority Dr. Shelly McNeil says it’s important people receive the correct dosage to provide the best chance of immunization.

“We know that the vaccine was highly effective up to a couple of months after the second dose,” said McNeil. “So we know that people do need the two doses to get maximum response but we don’t know how long that protection will last beyond a couple of months at this stage.”

McNeil says the province expects to receive 5,800 doses of the vaccine by the end of December.

Dr. Watson-Creed says another manufacturer; Moderna has a vaccine ready for distribution and are just waiting for Health Canada approval.

“We are hoping to get it before the end of December or early January but we are waiting for more information on that. It doesn’t have quite the same requirements as the Pfizer vaccine does,” said Watson-Creed. “We will definitely be adding it into the mix to see if we can use that to extend out the populations of interests but the details are still being worked out.”

Dr. Watson-Creed says it’s an exciting day for Nova Scotians who have been waiting for the hope of a vaccine.

“I, myself, am completely surprised to find us here in December after having started this long journey at the beginning of this year. I think it truly is a milestone and I think it’s one of those things we’ll all remember where we were when COVID-19 vaccines arrived in our province.”

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