HALIFAX — Nova Scotia officials unveiled a plan Wednesday to lift COVID-19 restrictions and announced a pay raise for long-term care workers in an effort to boost capacity in a health system strained by the novel coronavirus.
Beginning Monday, restrictions imposed in mid-December to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant will start to lift, Premier Tim Houston told reporters. The government's reopening plan, he said, is in three phases.
"We are at a stage where Nova Scotia is ready to make gradual changes and we can make those changes with confidence," Houston said.
In Phase 1, the informal gathering limit will increase to 25 people from 10 people, while formal limits for events such as weddings, funerals and faith services will be allowed at 50 per cent capacity.
All restrictions for domestic travellers will be lifted, while retail businesses and malls can operate at maximum capacity with physical distancing and masks. Restaurants and bars can operate at 75 per cent capacity instead of 50, with physical distancing and a limit of 25 people per table.
Houston said gathering limits will be further increased under Phase 2 and will be removed altogether under Phase 3. Each phase is expected to last about a month, he said.
Officials said throughout the first two phases, masks will be required in indoor public places and proof of full vaccination will be required for discretionary activities.
But Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, said although the province had passed its peak in terms of the number of cases and hospital admissions during the Omicron wave, the health system is still under "tremendous pressure," with bed occupancy at over 105 per cent.
Houston said that as a result, his government needs to find ways to increase capacity by filling more vacant spaces in long-term care facilities. He said that's only possible by attracting more continuing-care assistants to a profession that has been historically underpaid in Nova Scotia.
"We will be increasing the pay for every (continuing-care assistant) in this province and we will make Nova Scotia a pay leader with the raises that we are putting forward," he said.
In a news release, the province said $65 million would be made available for increases that would take effect Thursday.
It said wages for unionized and non-unionized continuing-care assistants at all levels in the public sector would increase by approximately 23 per cent. That would bring the top annual salary to $48,419 — an increase of close to $9,000.
"If we can get people to return to the industry, it will have an incredibly positive impact and help us with our capacity issues," Houston said.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia reported five more deaths attributed COVID-19 on Wednesday. Health officials said the latest deaths involved women ranging in age from 60 to 90. There have been 55 deaths since the start of the Omicron wave on Dec. 8.
Officials said there were 91 people in hospital due to the disease, including 16 people in intensive care, after eight patients were admitted to hospital since Tuesday's report and four were discharged. Another 276 patients who have COVID-19 were either admitted for other reasons or have contracted the disease in hospital.
Also Wednesday, health officials recommended booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine for youth aged 12 to 17 who are at higher risk of severe illness from an infection. The province said its latest recommendation followed guidance from late January by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which recommended booster doses for adolescents 12 to 17 who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
The national advisory group's recommendations also apply to residents of congregate living settings, such as group homes, and to people in that age group who belong to racialized or marginalized communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. It said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is preferred as a booster for that age group.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2022.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
