New COVID Rules for NSCC and Universities

Premier Stephen McNeil says he welcomes thousands of post secondary students to Nova Scotia but this year he added conditions. Students entering the province from outside Atlantic Canada will require testing for COVID-19 along with 14 days of self-isolation before they can attend school.

Students inside the Atlantic bubble only need to self-isolate if they travelled outside the bubble in the past 14 days.

The testing requirement applies to all university and NSCC students arriving in Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada, effective immediately, including those who are currently self-isolating. 

Students will be tested at three different times during their 14-day isolation period. Even with negative test results, the full 14-day self-isolation must be completed. Students cannot attend in-person classes until their testing and self-isolation are complete and only with negative test results.

Universities and NSCC are contacting their students directly with information about these requirements. Students should direct any question to their institutions.

"Testing university and NSCC students during their self-isolation periods can help with early detection and management of cases in the post-secondary population," said Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, deputy chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia. "Along with testing, everyone following the public health measures — students completing their self-isolation and social distancing — and the plans the institutions have put in place will help keep students, staff, and surrounding communities safe during the school year.”

Government is also updating the border form for everyone arriving in the province from outside the Atlantic bubble. The new Nova Scotia Safe Check-in allows better data collection and tracking. A digital check-in will soon replace follow up phone calls to ensure people are self-isolating.

See the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/travel/.

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