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
Erin Best The decision of Justice Handrigan in Ryan v. Curlew is the first motor vehicle accident personal injury decision to come out of the Newfoundland and Labrador courts in quite some time. The case…
Read MoreRob Aske The arrival of spring should bring thoughts of renewal… to your privacy practices. Breach reporting under PIPEDA Canada’s federal privacy law known by the acronym PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)…
Read MoreChad Sullivan Overview An Indigenous law professor filed a human rights complaint against the University of British Columbia claiming the university discriminated against her in failing to consider her less traditional scholarly work as akin…
Read MoreRick Dunlop and Kevin Landry The Federal government has released a new report titled: Proposed Approach to the Regulation of Cannabis: Summary of Comments Received During the Public Consultation (the “new report”) which outlines the…
Read MoreSean Kelly and Michelle Black Employers across Canada are facing a series of recently-announced plans for substantial minimum wage hikes in several provinces. Notably, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia have all committed to raising their minimum…
Read MoreWe are pleased to present the second issue of Discovery, our very own legal publication targeted to educational institutions in Atlantic Canada. In this issue, our lawyers discuss student associations, sports-related concussions, freedom of expression,…
Read MoreIn preparing for the 2018 proxy season, you should be aware of some regulatory changes and institutional investor guidance that may impact disclosure to, and interactions with, your shareholders. This update highlights what is new…
Read MoreBrian Tabor, QC and Simon McCormick In May 2012, the Nova Scotia Legislature passed the Mortgage Regulation Act (“MRA”). The MRA has not yet come into force, but, when it does, it will replace the…
Read MoreThe Legislative Services Branch of the Province of New Brunswick has announced in issue 40 of the Law Reform Note, available online, its intention to reform the Mechanics’ Lien Act. The Note draws on similar…
Read MoreJonathan Coady and Chenchen Yu 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 Edward…
Read More