Physicians Community Navigator News

This week in our Physician Community Navigator News, Breanna welcomed the new cohort of family medicine residents to the Annapolis Valley with gift baskets filled with local treats and products from the region.
Don’t forget to follow the Annapolis Valley Chamber on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn to learn what our Physician Community Navigator is up to throughout the summer.
Welcome! – New Members:
Meet a Board Member – Greg Wagner





From our Members:

Reduced Covid-19 Restrictions and What That Means for Small Business
What does this mean for your business? For your business, you are still in control. If you choose to require masks or isolation of your staff if they catch covid, it is up to you and your workplace health policy. This may mean you should relook at your policies now. If a workplace has occupational health policies that are stricter than the public health recommendations, such as mandatory masking or isolation requirements, people must continue to follow those policies at your workplace. Admittedly, there is currently far less mask-wearing in public settings or in business locations, so enforcing any policy you may have will become increasingly difficult. But it is up to you.
What does this mean for our community? Read the updates below:
Isolation
- isolation shifts from being mandatory to strongly recommended for people who test positive for COVID-19
- it is also strongly recommended that people who have symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or fever isolate until feeling better
- it is still important for people with symptoms to avoid high-risk settings and people at higher risk
- if a workplace has occupational health policies that are stricter than the general public health recommendations, such as mandatory masking or isolation requirements, people must continue to follow those policies.
Masks
- will shift from strongly recommended to optional
- masks are still strongly recommended for people who are ill or in a crowded indoor setting
- for people who have COVID-19 symptoms but cannot isolate, it is strongly recommended they wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public places, on public transit and crowded areas
- it is each person’s own decision whether to wear a mask, weighing their risk factors and comfort and those of people around them.
Testing
- people with symptoms will still have access to COVID-19 testing at testing centres across the province
- people with symptoms who are in a low-risk category in their self-assessment will have access to rapid tests only and will not receive a PCR test whether or not they test positive on a rapid test
- higher risk people and those who work or live in higher-risk congregate settings still have access to PCR testing, and it is still recommended
- Nova Scotia will no longer offer testing for those without COVID-19 symptoms
- rapid tests will continue to be available for pickup at public libraries and MLA offices, but people who are sick should not go.
Long-Term Care, Corrections Facilities, Shelters, and Transition Houses
- to align with the policy at hospitals, designated caregivers and visitors will no longer need proof of vaccination to visit
- designated caregivers and visitors will be able to remove their masks when visiting in a private area or while outdoors
- seven-day isolation for residents who test positive for COVID-19 continues to be required.
This month, the provincial government will shift to a monthly COVID-19 report, which will be posted online. The report will be produced on the 15th of every month and reflect the COVID-19 epidemiology in the province for the previous month. The first monthly report will be for June and will be available on July 15. The COVID-19 dashboard will continue to be updated weekly.
Read the full news release here.
It’s been a challenging two years. We at the Chamber thank you for your continued support throughout this pandemic. We are a membership-based organization that only exists because of businesses like yours supporting our advocacy work. We appreciate your commitment and are here for any current and future challenges or questions you may have. We will continue to be the voice of business.