Restrictions put in place last Thursday to try and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Halifax area will remain in place until at least Dec. 16.
It was originally hoped they could be lifted after two weeks, but at a Friday briefing, Dr. Robert Strang said more time is needed to get the number of cases to drop.
“This means that bars and restaurants will remain closed. Fitness facilities, gyms, studios etcetera will also remain closed. Retail operations will remain at 25 per cent of legal capacity and only essential travel in and out of the affected areas in Halifax is allowed,” said the province’s chief medical officer of health.
“So for school, for work, for medical appointments, for necessary legal reasons such as child custody arrangements, travel is allowed,” Strang explained. “Any other types of travel that are deemed non-essential, we are asking people to not do that.”
The gathering limit remains capped at 5.
The affected area is considered to be the western half of HRM, along with Elmsdale, Enfield and Mount Uniacke in Hants County.
Strang said the province continues to see double-digit cases on a daily basis and the modelling suggests that will continue for several more days.
“Public Health still has 1,178 open investigations and the number of close contacts for each case remains high,” he said.
He added he understands these restrictions are difficult, especially as we all prepare for the holidays.
“But that’s precisely why we’re doing what we’re doing now,” Strang explained.
“I can’t make any promises about where we’ll be in three weeks, but what I can tell you is, the more we buckle down and stay tight right now and for the next couple of weeks, the better position we’ll be in to be able to have some slight relaxation as we enter the holiday weeks.”
