NS Moves to Phase Two COVID Recovery
Nova Scotia will move to phase two of the latest COVID re-opening plan on Monday. You will see further easing of the COVID-19 restrictions along with a new approach to testing, and case and contact management.
Effective Monday at 12:01 am, the main changes are increases in gathering and capacity limits.
The province is also recommending rapid tests to help protect people at increased risk of severe disease. People who are older or immunocompromised, and those who live in such a household, are encouraged to do regular rapid testing, even if they don't have symptoms.
Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer, says, “Epidemiology is improving and restrictions are gradually lifting, but the pandemic is not over and we need to continue to evolve our testing strategy.” Strang, says, “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, physical distance, and carefully choosing activities and social groups.
Rapid tests continue to be available at pop-up sites, family resource centres, and some libraries. Community distribution will be further expanded in the coming weeks.
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.
Contacts With no Symptoms
There will no longer be isolation or testing requirements for contacts who do not have symptoms.
Contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19 are not required to isolate or get tested but should monitor for symptoms. If the contact lives with the person who tests positive, the contact is not required to isolate or get tested but should monitor for symptoms, and testing is recommended.
People with Symptoms
People who live with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 and develops symptoms will need to isolate and test immediately, and then do a second test 72 hours later.
If using rapid tests, a third test is required 48 hours after the second. People can leave isolation if all tests are negative, symptoms are improving and they've had no fever for 24 hours.
There is no change for people who do not live with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and develop symptoms — they still need to isolate and test immediately. If using rapid tests, a second test 48 hours after the first is required.
Anyone who tests positive with a rapid test can get that result confirmed with a PCR test.
People can leave isolation if all tests are negative, symptoms are improving and they've had no fever for 24 hours.
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