COVID-19 Visitor Information

Masking Policy

Due to increasing COVID-19 activity in Nova Scotia, the following changes to masking rules will begin September 26, 2024:

• Patients, visitors, essential care partners, volunteers, physicians, and NS Health staff are required to wear a mask in all acute care facilities (e.g. hospitals, including inpatient and ambulatory areas) where patients are present and direct clinical care is being provided. 

  While masks remain encouraged in common areas where people gather, they are not required except for people who are symptomatic.
  
  *A clinical area is any area where patient care is provided, this includes: Diagnostic Imaging, blood collection, patient rooms, waiting rooms, inpatient and ambulatory care areas, and any other area where patient care is provided.

• During the delivery of programs or services in private homes with people who are at high risk** of severe COVID- 19 disease, masking is required for all people present during the care visit.
  
  **People who are 65 or older with moderate to severe immunocompromise /with less than two doses of COVID-19 vaccine / 6 months of age or older and at higher risk of other (non-COVID) illness. When vaccine status unclear, mask.
   
• All NS Health Long Term facilities have specific rules for each facility.  Please check before visiting.

Clinics outside of acute care facilities (e.g., Primary Health Care Clinics, Collaborative Care Clinics) masking continues to be recommended but not required.

If you have questions regarding these changes, you can reach out to the Emerging and Re-emerging Infections Network at ERINnetwork@nshealth.ca

Attending a scheduled appointment within a Nova Scotia Health facility

• COVID-19 and respiratory screening starts with your appointment letter. Please refer to this letter prior to entering our facilities to ensure you are not exhibiting symptoms or risk associated with respiratory viruses.
   
• You may receive a call 48 hours prior to your appointment to complete respiratory screening and ensure you have all you need for your scheduled appointment.
   
• When you arrive, your treatment provider will complete screening questions related to respiratory viruses. Your treatment team will then determine how to best provide care and services, based on your screening outcomes.

Masking is still required in some Nova Scotia Health clinics and waiting areas. Your care team will ask you to don a mask in these areas and signs will be posted to indicate that masks are required.

Visitors

You can find our family presence information here.

What to Expect for Designated Caregivers in our Long Term Care Facilities

Designated caregivers can watch this instructional video to learn what to expect in our long term care facilities.

Also, view our COVID-19 Toolkit – Designated Caregivers in Long-term Care

Access Control

Access control measures remain in place at our facilities which includes limiting the number of entrances to our buildings. Please enter and exit at the identified access points.