Murray Ryan, Northside-Westmount MLA
174 Commercial Street B2A1B4 North Sydney, NS, Canada

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... -- 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 -- 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 -- more people can get exceptions to enter Nova Scotia for end-of-life visits with immediate family members People who do not follow the public health measures can be fined. For example, the fine is now $2,000 for each person at an illegal gathering. A passenger testing program at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport is planned. Other border testing measures are being considered. More details will be released as they are developed. Further details can be found at the following link https://novascotia.ca//reopening-safely-with-COVID-19-plan

Today, May 28, Nova Scotia is reporting a death related to COVID-19. A woman in her 50s has died in Central Zone. Nova Scotia is also reporting 40 new cases of COVID-19 and 92 recoveries. There are 29 cases in Central Zone, five in Eastern Zone, four in Northern Zone and two in Western Zone.... There is still community spread in Central Zone and limited community spread in Sydney. Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread. As of today, Nova Scotia has 585 active cases of COVID-19. There are 53 people in hospital, including 18 in ICU. The median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 53 for non-ICU, and 57 for people in ICU.

Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang will provide a #COVID19NS update today at 3 p.m., available on Facebook Live, YouTube and at novascotia.ca/coronavirus. On Monday, May 31, they will provide an update at 3 p.m.

Second doses will soon be on the way. In the meantime if you haven't made an appointment for your first dose it's quick and easy, just have your MSI card on hand and click on this link, https://novascotia.flow.canimmunize.ca/en/9874123-19-7418965 With 18 cases today in the Eastern Zone we actually had more cases than the Central Zone. Covid-19 is in our community. Going to get tested regularly is an important part of keeping our family's and community safe. Book an appointment today to get tested at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en Take care and stay safe!

Nova Scotia is reporting 33 new cases of COVID-19 and 182 recoveries. There are 18 cases in Eastern Zone, 14 in Central Zone and one in Northern Zone. One of the cases in Eastern Zone involves a staff member at Harbourstone Enhanced Care, a long-term care facility in Sydney. Public health is providing direction on isolation and other requirements.... There is still community spread in Central Zone and limited community spread in Sydney. Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread. As of today, Nova Scotia has 638 active cases of COVID-19. There are 63 people in hospital, including 21 in ICU. The median age of people hospitalized in the third wave is 52 for non-ICU, and 57 for people in ICU. More information on testing can be found at https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting

COVID-19 Briefing, Friday, May 14 Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, will provide an update today, May 14, at 2 p.m. This update will be livestreamed on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast

COVID-19/INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH--Expanded Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program Opens ---------------------------------------------------------- More types of businesses are now eligible for the Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program, which opened to applications today, May 14. The program has expanded to include live performing arts organizations and independent retailers with a physical location, such as bookstores or clothing stores.... The Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program, administered by the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Response Council, provides eligible businesses with a one-time rebate of a portion of their paid property taxes. They can choose a rebate of $1,000 or 50 per cent of the commercial real property taxes paid for the final six months of the 2020-21 tax year. Quick Facts: --expanding the eligibility criteria is estimated to cost $4 million, bringing the total cost of the program to $11 million -- the program is funded through the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Response Council fund -- the program is available to gym and fitness establishments, hair salons and barber shops, spas, nail salons, body art establishments, restaurants offering in-person dining service, bars and licensed drinking establishments, independent retailers with a physical retail location and organizations offering live performing arts Additional Resources: More information about the Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program and the online application can be found here: https://nscrc.ca/programs/

Nova Scotia Public Health has now opened up the age group 35-39 for vaccinations. Now anyone over 35 years of age may book their vaccination appointment online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vaccination or by phone at 1-833-797-7772. https://www.cbc.ca//vaccine-eligibility-covid-19-age-35-39

PCs to NSLC: Don’t put local beer producers at a disadvantage during the pandemic May 14, 2021 For Immediate Release...Continue reading

Today, May 13, Nova Scotia is reporting 110 new cases of COVID-19 and 155 recoveries. There are 83 cases in Central Zone, 12 in Eastern Zone, nine in Western Zone and six in Northern Zone. Eight patients in a non-COVID unit at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre have been identified as positive for COVID-19. They have been transferred to a COVID-19 unit. The other patients in the non-COVID unit have tested negative and are being closely monitored. As... a precaution, Nova Scotia Health Authority is testing staff and doctors who have worked in the unit. There is community spread in Central Zone. The Eastern, Northern and Western Zones continue to be closely monitored for community spread. Public health has cleared the backlog of positive cases and resumed normal processes for contacting cases and contacts. As of today, Nova Scotia has 1,572 active cases of COVID-19. There are 85 people in hospital, including 15 in ICU. Travel within Nova Scotia: Nova Scotians should remain as close to their home and community as possible, unless travel is essential for work, caregiving, necessary shopping or medical appointments, including vaccination appointments. In this instance, 'community' is defined as one's municipality or county. Detailed information is available at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/ . Testing advice: Nova Scotians with or without symptoms can book a test at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en for primary assessment centres across the province. Those with no symptoms are strongly encouraged to use pop-up sites if they are not showing symptoms but want to be tested. More information on testing can be found at https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirustesting

Effective tomorrow these new restrictions will be coming into effect in Halifax and Hants counties.

As of November 26, new restrictions in western and central Halifax Regional Municipality from Hubbards to Porters Lake are in place. Nova Scotians are being ask...ed to avoid non-essential travel in and out of western and central Halifax Regional Municipality and to other Atlantic provinces. Residents are being asked to stay home as much as possible outside of work and school, and to follow public health guidelines. Limit time spent with others outside your household. COVID-19 is in our communities. We need to act now help slow the spread and protect those who need our help. For information on new COVID-19 restrictions visit novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

If you have visited Halifax in the past two weeks and visited a bar or restaurant at night please ensure to contact Public Health and get a Covid-19 test. Today the province announced an additional 35 cases in Halifax and surrounding areas. Restrictions being announced today pertain for the most part to the HRM. For now most of the Eastern Zone's restrictions are unchanged. The second wave is now under way in our province. Now more than ever it is important for us all to continue to practice social distancing, wearing our masks when in public and regularly and thoroughly washing our hands. Stay Safe!

Today Nova Scotia announced 37 new cases. Dr. Strang also announced new restrictions that will be coming into force at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, and continue for two weeks until midnight Dec. 9, with a possibility of extension. Nova Scotians are being asked to avoid non-essential travel: - in and out of western and central HRM (which is defined as HRM from Hubbards to, and including, Porters Lake and the communities up to Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke in Hants County - ...Continue reading

COVID-19 Briefing, Tuesday, Nov. 24 -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health and Premier McNeil will provide an update Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. Public health protocols are in effect: please stay home if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed here: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/when-to-seek-help/, practise good hand washing and other hygiene steps, as well as physical distanc...ing. This update will be livestreamed on https://novascotia.ca/stayinformed/webcast .