Nova Scotia announces mandatory quarantine for public sector staff and students returning from outside Canada
Brian Johnston, QC and Jennifer Thompson
In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Strang have announced that all public sector employees who have travelled outside Canada must self-isolate for 14 days following their return to Canada before they are allowed to come back to the workplace. These employees will be paid during the quarantine period.
The requirement to self-isolate also applies to students returning from travel outside Canada, who must also self-isolate for 14 days before returning to school or daycare. This applies regardless of whether their parents or caregivers are public sector employees. Schools will otherwise be re-opening as usual after March break for those students who have not been outside Canada. There will be measures in place to limit large gatherings, with school concerts and assemblies prohibited.
The province is also recommending that large gatherings of more than 150 people not occur, although this is not mandatory at this stage.
The premier has encouraged private sector employers to take the same steps, namely requiring all employees returning from travel outside Canada to self-isolate for 14 days and minimizing large gatherings. The premier also asked that private sector employers support their employees in the same way that the province is supporting public sector employees, suggesting that they should consider continuing to pay them through the period of self-isolation.
As of March 13, 2020 there are no cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. However, Dr. Strang emphasized that “If we wait until it’s here, it’s too late”, calling on the public to take the steps required to protect the wider community. The government has indicated that it will revisit the measures as necessary.
This article is provided for general information only. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour and Employment Group.
Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership.
Archive
Brian Johnston, QC and Matthew Jacobs Bill C-86, enacted as SC 2018, c. 27, will effect massive changes upon how federal labour and employment relations are regulated. They come into effect in 2019 with staggered…
Read MoreWe can all make 2019 a success by building on the year that was. For employers, 2018 was a year of many notable developments in labour and employment law across the country. We saw Ontario…
Read MoreLevel Chan and Dante Manna As 2018 comes to an end, we countdown some pension and employee benefits developments in the last year that we anticipate may lead to developments in 2019. Discrimination in benefits…
Read MoreKevin Landry The first look at regulations for cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals has arrived. The Federal Government has opened a 60-day consultation period respecting the strict regulation of additional cannabis products. Notice of the consultation was accompanied…
Read MoreErin Best and Kara Harrington “This case is about pain, how it was caused, by what accident and the opinions of dueling experts.”¹ “In this case, like so many, the assessment of the evidence depends…
Read MoreJonathan Coady and Michael Fleischmann Overview Once again, the time has come to review the year that was and to chart the course for the year ahead. For municipalities, developers and planning professionals throughout Prince…
Read MoreFollowing the various Stakeholder Consultations (which Stewart McKelvey participated in on behalf of Nova Scotia Employers), the Government has changed the Labour Standards Code Regulations effective January 1, 2019 to: a) provide for up to…
Read MoreVersion française à suivre Sara Espinal Henao Canada has expanded its permanent and temporary immigration requirements to include biometrics – the measurement of unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints and facial features. The new requirements,…
Read MoreMany businesses rely on trade-mark, copyright, and patent law for the protection of their intellectual property (IP). The Federal Government recently proposed changes to IP laws, which may impact your business. Bill C-86, Budget Implementation Act,…
Read MoreJulia Parent and David Wedlake (special thanks to Graham Haynes for his assistance) In a rare decision from the bench, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) allowed the appeal of Callidus Capital Corporation in the matter…
Read More