We made it to the third phase of the Nova Scotia reopening, with over 72 percent of people getting at least their first dose and a rapidly increasing number (currently around 20 percent) of people on second doses.
Compare phase 3 below with phase 2 listed here.
The following is allowed in Nova Scotia starting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30th – everything from socializing to shopping, eating and traveling.
1Restaurants, Bars and Casino NS
Can offer food and drink until 12:00 noon and must close at 1:00 a.m. Bar service is allowed but you must wear a mask when leaving your table. The rules for social distance and masking must continue to be adhered to, with the group maxima still being 10.
2Salons, spas, and body arts
Walk-in appointments can now be offered as long as the location complies with industry guidelines for wearing masks.
3live music
There can be up to 15 artists indoors and up to 25 outdoors who are required to wear masks unless they are singing or playing a wind instrument.
4thsale
All retail stores can be occupied to 75 percent if the physical distance and mask requirements are observed.
5 Long term care
Indoor visits can resume in designated areas for fully vaccinated residents. No physical distance is required for outdoor visits.
6th Celebrations and events
Can be up to 50 percent of the capacity of a venue for a maximum of 100 people and a maximum of 150 people outdoors. Must keep the distance and mask requirement.
7th Informal gatherings
You can now have your household * plus * 10 extra people indoors with no physical distancing. The outdoor meeting limit of 25 people remains the same as in phase 2.
8th Offices, meetings and training
Organized meetings held by clubs, support groups, government and private corporations, can be up to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity with a maximum of 100 people indoors and 150 outdoors, while maintaining spacing and masking requirements. Offices and workplaces can also begin a gradual return to work, but masks are required in all public areas, places with public interaction, areas with poor ventilation, and areas where people cannot maintain physical distance.
9 Performing arts
Can gather up to 15 people indoors and 25 people outdoors without distancing themselves for performances. Masks are still recommended when physical distancing cannot be achieved. Spectators are admitted due to the capacity limits of the event (see 6).
10 Sports
Can gather up to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors to practice and play. Masks are still recommended when physical distance cannot be achieved and tournaments are not permitted. Spectators are admitted due to the capacity limits of the event (see 6).
11 Faith meetings, weddings and funerals
If operated by a business or organization, they can provide 50 percent of the venue’s capacity for up to 100 people indoors and up to 150 people outdoors with physical distancing. For informal events, the rules for informal gatherings must be followed, currently your household plus 10 people inside or 25 outside – plus the official (see 7).
12th Indoor recreation
Dance courses, playgrounds, escape rooms, climbing halls, music lessons and arcades can be used up to 50 percent with physical distancing. Mask is compulsory “except for an activity that makes wearing a mask difficult”.
13th Day camps
Can operate in cohorts of 20 people each without physical distancing. Overnight summer camps can be run with 15 people (excluding staff and volunteers) in each group. Must follow COVID-19 Return to Day Camp guidelines (PDF).
14th Gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities
Including yoga studios, tennis groups, and arenas, this sector may be 75 percent busy as per its COVID plans. Golf courses can be operated at maximum capacity with physical distancing between individual groups.
fifteenMuseums, libraries and galleries
Can be operated at 50 percent capacity and must comply with the rules of physical distancing and masks.
16 travel
For people visiting Nova Scotia, it’s a bit of a clusterfuck depending on where they’re from and how much vaccination they have. But Nova Scotians who are fully vaccinated can travel outside of the Atlantic provinces and return without isolation once fully vaccinated. See the government website for complete information.