28 Mar Measures to Help Businesses, Seniors and Vulnerable Nova Scotians
Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, gave an update on March 27th, to help Nova Scotians dealing with COVID-19.
Measures announced were:
– Government is encouraging retail and commercial landlords to defer lease payments for the next three months for businesses that had to close directly due to the public health order.
-Landlords who participate by granting such businesses a three-month deferral and register by April 3 will be able to claim losses of up to $5,000 per month, if the renting business does not continue operating. Landlords are not permitted to change locks or seize property of businesses who cannot pay rent, if the business closed directly because of COVID-19 public health orders
-The Department of Health and Wellness will distribute up to 800 iPads across the province to long-term care homes so residents can connect with family and friends; the tablets will begin arriving at facilities in April.
– Restaurants will be allowed to include alcohol purchases with takeout and delivery orders as long as the alcohol cost is not more than three times the value of food ordered, effective March 30.
– An amendment to Dr. Strang’s health protection order allows veterinarians to provide virtual care, prescription refills and in-patient urgent or emergencies services.
Measures announced to help vulnerable Nova Scotians by the Department of Community Services are:
– Partnering with Telus to provide 100 phones and calling plans to most-vulnerable clients who have no other means of communication and who may be self-isolated and alone at a cost of $50,000 for the phones and $5,000 per month for the calling plans.
– Investing $200,000 to support transition houses as well as other organizations that serve vulnerable women and children.
– Investing $55,000 to support 12 smaller community food banks.
– Extending the hours of its toll-free line for income assistance supports soon, including weekends.
On March 26th, seventeen new cases were identified.
Most are connected to travel or a known case.
To date, Nova Scotia has 3,649 negative test results and 90 confirmed cases.
Anyone who has traveled outside of the Province must self-isolate for 14 days.
Others must follow the guideline to limit social gatherings to five people only (maximum).
Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information by visiting: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus.