A List of the Five Phases of Nova Scotia's Reopening Plan for Summer 2021

Premier Iain Rankin announced a five-phase plan today as Nova Scotia emerges from the biggest COVID-19 outbreak to hit the Atlantic region since the pandemic began.

Premier said the province’s five-phase plan will allow Nova Scotians to enjoy the summer while efforts continue to get the population fully vaccinated.

Phase 1:

Criteria: 50% of population one dose coverage

Restrictions are easing effective 8 a.m., June 2, as phase one gets fully underway:

Nova Scotians can gather outdoors with a consistent social group of up to 10 people without physical distance
The limit for indoor gatherings remains the people you live with; two households with one or two people each can still join together but they must be the same two households all the time
Faith gatherings can be held outdoors with a limit of 10 plus officiants when hosted by a recognized organization; drive-in services are allowed with no limit on numbers
Wedding and funeral ceremonies remain limited to five plus officiants indoors but can increase to 10 plus officiants outdoors; there can be no receptions or visitations
Restaurants and licensed establishments can open patios at their maximum capacity with physical distance between tables, a limit of 10 people per table and masks when people are not eating or drinking; they must stop service by 11 p.m. and close by midnight
All retail stores can operate at 25 per cent capacity, ensuring physical distance
Personal services such as hair salons, barber shops and spas can operate by appointment only following their sector plan but cannot offer services that require removing the customer’s mask
Fitness and recreation facilities can offer outdoor activities with a limit of 10 people with physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced on their own property, as well as one-on-one personal training indoors
Outdoor pools can open with a limit of 10 people at a time with physical distancing
Organized sports practices can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing, or multiple groups of 10 that are distanced
Professional arts and culture organizations can hold rehearsals with 15 people indoors and amateur rehearsals can have 10 people outdoors without physical distancing
Drive-in theatres can operate with no limit on numbers
Campgrounds can offer season and short-term camping following their sector plan with distance between campsites
Residents of long-term care facilities can have visitors outdoors; visitors must wear masks but no physical distance is required if the resident is fully vaccinated
Recreation activities and services such as hairstyling can resume for fully vaccinated residents of long-term care facilities
Fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Health and Wellness under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work or school
Fully vaccinated residents of homes licensed by the Department of Community Service under the Homes for Special Care Act can resume access to their communities for work, therapy, recreation and family visits
More people can get exceptions to enter Nova Scotia for end-of-life visits with immediate family members
Students from within Canada can apply to enter the province for in-person or virtual studies if they are enrolled in the summer semester

Phase 2:

Criteria: 2-4 weeks after Phase 1, 60% of population one dose coverage

Expected date 16 June

No restrictions on travel within Nova Scotia.
Increase informal gathering limit indoors to 10 people without physical distance (household members + visitors).
Increase informal gathering limit outdoors to 25 people without physical distance.
Seasonal property owners, people moving to Nova Scotia permanently can enter with 14-day quarantine.
Gyms and fitness facilities can operate at 50% capacity.
Households can have more than one designated shopper.
Personal services by appointment only following sector plan, can resume all services, including ones that requiring removing a client’s mask.
Museums and libraries open at 25% capacity.
Professional artists, musicians, dancers and actors can rehearse with 15 people indoors and 25 outdoors without distancing or masks. Amateurs can rehearse in groups of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors without distancing or masks (no in-person performances).
Sports practices can have groups of 10 people indoors or 25 outdoors without distancing or masks (no games).
Meetings, training and clubs can have limit of 10 people indoors or 25 outdoors with physical distance.
Day camps can operate with limit of 15 per group indoors and outdoors, including staff and volunteers, without distancing.
Adult day programs can operate following guidelines
Indoor dining at restaurants with maximum of 10 people per table. Masks required except when eating and drinking.
All retail businesses open at 50% with public health measures like distancing and masks

Phase 3:

Criteria: 2-4 weeks after Phase 2, 65% of population one dose coverage

Expected date 30 June

Atlantic Bubble opens based on vaccine status, border testing strategy and epidemiology of other provinces.
Travellers from outside Atlantic Canada can enter with 14-day quarantine.
Increase informal gathering limit indoors to household plus 10 people without physical distance.
Further increase capacity for all sectors.
Gyms and fitness facilities can open at 75% capacity.
Restaurant hours of service stop at midnight.
All retail businesses open at 75% capacity with public health measures like distancing and masks.
Spectators, special events, faith gatherings, meetings, training and clubs hosted by recognized business or organization increased limits to be determined.
Sports games and arts and culture performances allowed with no change to limits. Spectators allowed with event gathering limits.
Personal services can open fully following their sector plan.
Overnight camps can operate following guidelines with cohorts of 15 including staff and volunteers

Phase 4:

Criteria: 2-4 weeks after Phase 3, 75% of population one dose coverage

Expected date 14 July

Canadian travellers from outside of Atlantic Canada can enter; quarantine requirements may be determined by vaccine status, border testing strategy and epidemiology of other provinces.
Increase indoor household gathering limit to 25 people with no physical distancing.
Groups of up to 10 can gather indoors and outdoors without physical distancing.
Increase informal gathering limit outdoors to 50 people without physical distance.
Retail open at maximum capacity possible with public health measures including distancing and masks.
Sports and professional and amateur arts and culture: 50 participants with no physical distancing or masks for practices, games, league play, rehearsals and in-person performances.
Spectators, special events, faith gatherings, meetings, training and clubs hosted by recognized business or organization increased limits to be determined.
Gyms and fitness facilities can open – capacity to be determined
Day camps can operate with limit of 30 per group indoors and outdoors, including staff and volunteers, without distancing.
Family visits outdoors with long-term care residents who are not fully vaccinated.

Phase 5:

Target: 75% of population fully vaccinated with two doses

Expected date: September

Living with COVID
Reduce border restrictions
Increase gathering limits
Ease public health measures
Federal regulations and requirements need to be considered

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