What’s new?

To monitor data on a daily basis, see the Nova Scotia and Canadian data pages.

• Fourteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported today (all in the Central Zone except for one case each in the western and northern zones, on top of 16 cases in the Central Zone announced yesterday
• There has been good uptake of COVID-19 testing by both workers and patrons of bars and restaurants in Halifax
• There were several new potential COVID-19 exposures in Halifax Regional Municipality (see the full list of previously announced exposures here). Workers and patrons of businesses listed below should immediately self-isolate and arrange COVID-19 testing:
  • Oxford Taproom (6418 Quinpool Rd., Halifax) on Nov. 17 from noon-3:30 p.m.
  • The Auction House (1726 Argyle St., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 4-6 p.m.
  • Rogue Fitness (6331 Lady Hammond Rd, Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 6:45-9 p.m.
  • Rio Pilates and Yoga Studio (2470 Maynard St., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 6:45-9 a.m. and Nov. 20 from 6:45-9 a.m.
  • Uncommon Grounds (1030 South Park St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
  • The Roxbury Urban Dive Bar (1743 Grafton St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
  • The Midtown Tavern and Lounge (1744 Grafton St., Halifax) on Nov 20. from 8:45 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
  • The Split Crow Pub (1855 Granville Street, Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 4:30-7 p.m.
  • Mary’s Place Café II (5982 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  • Chop Steakhouse and Bar – Sutton Place Hotel (1680 Grafton St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
  • Tony’s Famous Donair and Pizza (2390 Robie St., Halifax) on Nov. 21 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Dauphinee Centre, Saint Mary’s University (934 Tower Rd., Halifax) at any time between Nov. 18 and Nov. 22
  • The Stubborn Goat Gastropub (1579 Grafton St., Halifax) on Nov. 22 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
  • The Pint Public House (1575 Argyle St., Halifax) on Nov. 14 from 10 p.m.-close
  • Bearly’s House of Blues and Ribs (1269 Barrington St., Halifax) on Nov. 14 from 10:30 p.m.-close and Nov. 19 from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
  • Durty Nellys (1645 Argyle St., Halifax) on Nov. 15 from 4:30 p.m.-close; Nov. 16 from 4:30 p.m.-close; Nov. 19 from 10:30 p.m.-close; and Nov. 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Nova Scotia Health – QEII Halifax Infirmary X-ray department waiting area (1799 Robie St., Halifax) on Nov. 17 from 8:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
  • Darrell’s Halifax (5516 Fenwick St., Halifax) on Nov. 17 from 6-9 p.m.
  • Kai Brady’s aka The Fickle Frog Pub (5679 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax) on Nov. 17 from 11:30 p.m.-close
  • Mary’s African Cuisine (1701 Barrington St., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 4:30-7 p.m.
  • Obladee Wine Bar (1600 Barrington St., Halifax) Nov. 19 from 9:30-11 p.m.
  • Jack Astors (107 Shubie Dr., Dartmouth) on Nov. 19 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  • Starbucks (5991 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Freeman’s Little New York (6092 Quinpool Rd., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 2:30-4:40 p.m.
  • Hermitage (1460 Lower Water St., Halifax) at any time between Nov. 18 and Nov. 21
  • Sea Smoke Restaurant and Bar (1477 Lower Water St., Halifax) on Nov. 21 from 3:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Little Oak Bar (1475 Lower Water St., Halifax) on Nov. 19 from 5-10:30 p.m.
  • Gahan House (5239 Sackville St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 8:30-11:30 p.m.
  • Halifax Alehouse (1717 Brunswick St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 9:30-close
  • Sourwood Cider (5576 Cornwallis St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • The Local Bar and Restaurant (2037 Gottingen St., Halifax) on Nov. 20 from 8:30-10:30 p.m.
  • Orange Theory Fitness (6140 Young St., Halifax) on Nov. 17 from 6:30-8:30 a.m.; Nov. 18 from 9-11 a.m.; Nov. 20 from 8:45-11:15 a.m.; and Nov. 21 from 7:45-9:45 a.m.
  • Mercantile Social (1579 Hollis St., Halifax) on Nov. 21 from 8:30-11 p.m.

Physicians working in other provinces

Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.): Asymptomatic workers essential to the critical maintenance of the province’s infrastructure, trade, transportation, health care, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, hydro-electric, mining and gas sectors are exempted from the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days only while these workers are travelling from their home and place of work in the province. When not working and in N.L, these workers must self-isolate. Physicians must complete an online exemption form to be approved to enter N.L. under the exemption. 

Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.): All travellers, including those from Atlantic Canada, must receive pre-travel approval to enter the province. Physicians can apply for work isolation through the pre-travel approval process. Learn more

New Brunswick (N.B.): As of midnight tonight, anyone entering N.B. from another province, including Atlantic Canada, must self-isolate for 14 days. The new mandatory order will provide details and will be posted at some point this evening. Check for more details

When returning to Nova Scotia from within the Atlantic bubble, Atlantic Canadian residents do not need to self-isolate. Physicians do not need to complete a Nova Scotia Safe Check-in Form (self-declaration) before they travel back to Nova Scotia.

COPD virtual support group
The Lung Association of Nova Scotia will host a new online support group for people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This private group and secure forum will allow people to ask questions and receive expert advice while connecting with others living with COPD. WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 2-3 p.m. Learn more

WEBINARS
Doctors Nova Scotia-hosted webinars have ended for the time being. Watch for more information.

DNS webinar recordings
Did you miss a webinar? Recordings are available on the DNS COVID-19 info hub.

REMINDERS

StatsCan study on health-providers experiences on PPE
Statistics Canada is researching the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian health-care workers, focusing on use and access to personal protective equipment (PPE), personal health and training, and information on PPE/infection prevention and control measures in the workplace. Learn more

Mask exemption requests
In response to a question from a member about guidance when patients request a letter of exemption for wearing a mask, the Department of Health and Wellness has responded with: “It is not encouraged to ask for a medical note as this could potentially add a significant demand on the health system. It is advised that people respect individuals who indicate that they cannot wear a mask.”

New restrictions now in effect until midnight on Dec. 9, with the possibility of extension:

• Nova Scotians are asked to avoid non-essential travel to other Atlantic provinces and to avoid travel in and out of western and central Halifax Regional Municipality (which is defined as HRM from Hubbards up to and including Porters Lake, and the communities up to and including Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke in Hants County)
• The following restrictions will apply to these parts of western and central HRM:
  • The gathering limit in public is five (or up to the number of members of an immediate family in a household)
  • Mandatory masking now applies to common areas of multi-unit residential buildings, such as apartment buildings and condos
  • Restaurants and licenced establishments are closed for in-person dining
  • Retail stores must restrict shoppers and staff to 25% or less of legal capacity
  • Wineries, distilleries and breweries cannot hold tastings or in-person dining and must follow retail rules in their stores
  • Organized sports, recreational activities, athletics, arts and cultural activities, and faith-based activities are paused
  • All fitness and recreational facilities are closed
  • Libraries and museums are closed, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
  • The casino and First Nations gaming establishments are closed
  • There will be stronger enforcement of illegal gatherings, including ticketing individual attendees (total fine of $1,000)
  • Schools, after-school programs and child care will remain open. Certain personal service businesses such as hairstylists, estheticians and nail salons in western and central HRM can continue except procedures that require a patron to remove their mask
• The following new restrictions apply across the province:
  • There will be no visitors (except volunteers and designated caregivers) to long-term care facilities and adult residential centres and regional rehabilitation centres licensed by the Department of Community Services
  • Sports teams are restricted to local or regional play only
  • No extracurricular activities between schools
• All workers and all patrons who have been at bars or restaurants in HRM after 10 p.m. in the last two weeks should book a COVID-19 test, even if they don’t have symptoms
• Due to rising cases in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island have both pulled out of the Atlantic bubble. Previously the Atlantic premiers recommended caution regarding non-essential travel within the Atlantic Provinces

• The following situations are now recognized as necessary travel and do not require the entire household to self-isolate with the traveller as long as a strict protocol for shared spaces is followed:
  • People who must travel for work that cannot be done virtually and don’t meet the criteria for rotational workers
  • People with legal custody arrangements that require parents or children to travel for visits
  • People receiving essential, specialized health-care treatment that is not available in Atlantic Canada
  • People participating in an essential legal proceeding outside Atlantic Canada when virtual attendance is not possible
  • Students studying outside Atlantic Canada whose primary or family residence is in Nova Scotia
• Modelling from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows there could be 60,000 new infections daily if Canadians increase their social contacts. That number could be limited to 20,000 a day if Canadians maintain their current number of personal contacts

Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program eAccess portal and website
There will be a planned outage for the NSPMP eAccess web application and website on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 11:59 p.m. until Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. eAccess will be down and there will be no ability to login to the system or access the website.

ICYMI

Clarification of self-isolation rule for travellers
Government has provided further clarification around new self-isolation rules which took effect on Nov. 9:

• • If a person travelling for non-essential reasons enters Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada everyone in the home where they are self-isolating must self-isolate as well. No one in that household can leave the property for 14 days and they cannot have visitors. This means no school, no shopping and no work outside the home
  • Examples of non-essential travel include vacations, visits, pickups or drop-offs of non-essential items, and so on
  • Examples of essential travel include certain types of work (such as by exempt, rotational or specialized workers) or attending an immediate family member’s funeral
  • If the shared home a traveller is isolating in has a completely separate living space with its own amenities and entrance, then other family members may be exempt from self-isolating with the individual who has returned to the Atlantic bubble. The isolating person cannot leave their designated private area
  • See the attached PDF for more details on self-isolating in a hotel and finishing it in a home, taking a walk outside while self-isolating, driving a traveller back from the airport, and international travellers

Free PPE extended until end of 2020
Government will supply community physicians with free personal protective equipment (PPE) for this flu season until Dec. 31. This includes gloves for administering intranasal influenza vaccine and additional medical masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizer and face shields for providing first aid and/or emergency assistance. Community physicians can click here to submit a request to the Department of Health and Wellness for additional PPE supplies for administering flu vaccinations; either update a previous request or make a new one. Your organization will be notified by email of the approved supply and instructions for online ordering. For more information, email PPErequest@novascotia.ca.

DNS staff, meetings and events
All DNS meetings and events have moved to a virtual format. You may reach staff by email or by calling 902-468-1866 or toll free at 1-800-563-3427.

Resources
See the DNS COVID-19 info hub for a complete list of COVID-19 resources.

Information hubs to watch

• Nova Scotia Health updates and service cancellations
• IWK updates and service cancellations
• Doctor Nova Scotia updates and information
• Dalhousie CPD COVID-19 webpage
• Department of Health and Wellness
• 811 assessment online assessment
• Government of Canada
• Canadian Medical Association
• Canadian Pediatric Society COVID-19 resources for the care of children