NS Relaxes Rules for New Brunswick Travellers

After all the hullabaloo on the highway, Nova Scotia will eliminate travel restrictions for people coming to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick.

Effective June 30 at 8 am, as earlier planned, there will be no requirements to self-isolate or complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in.

The Premier said, “Public health has asked us for a little more time to boost our coverage of second doses while watching the epidemiology before modified restrictions are removed on travel from New Brunswick.” Iain Rankin also says, “We know that it is difficult to wait an additional week — now six days — but the end of this pandemic is in sight, and we need to remain cautious with our reopening plan.” 

The province is also relaxing regulations for people travelling from provinces and territories outside Atlantic Canada. Travellers will have to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form, upload their proof of vaccination electronically and be prepared to show it, if asked by border officials. 

However, they may have to isolate based on vaccination and testing:

• people who have had two doses of vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in Nova Scotia will not have to self-isolate; testing is recommended
• people who have had one dose of vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in Nova Scotia must self-isolate for at least seven days and cannot leave isolation until they get two negative test results while in Nova Scotia; tests should be on day one or two and on day five or six
• people who have not had any vaccine and those who had a first dose within 14 days of arrival must isolate for 14 days; testing at the beginning and end of their isolation continues to be recommended

"We have all made huge sacrifices to battle this pandemic and we are too close to the end to take risks that could lead to another surge in cases," said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health. "Public health decisions are all about balancing risks. We are doing that by taking one more week before we open fully to New Brunswick, by having entry requirements when we welcome people from outside Atlantic Canada, and by Nova Scotians getting vaccinated and continuing regular testing.”

Currently, anyone from outside Atlantic Canada who completes 14 days of isolation in Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador can enter Nova Scotia without isolating again.

Get the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form at https://travel-declaration.novascotia.ca/en

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