**** Health / ADVANCED EDUCATION
Testing Strategy for Post-Secondary Students Entering Nova Scotia, Border Requirements Enhanced
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Premier Stephen McNeil, after consultation with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced today, Aug. 20, that post-secondary students entering the province from outside Atlantic Canada will require testing for COVID-19 along with 14 days of self-isolation.
“We are happy to welcome thousands of post-secondary students to Nova Scotia,” said Premier McNeil. “We are working closely with universities and NSCC on these public health measures to keep post-secondary students, staff and their surrounding communities safe.”
Students coming to Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. Students inside the Atlantic bubble only need to self-isolate if they travelled outside the bubble in the past 14 days.
The testing requirement applies to all university and NSCC students arriving in Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada, effective immediately, including those who are currently self-isolating.
Students will be tested at three different times during their 14-day isolation period. Even with negative test results, the full 14-day self-isolation must be completed. Students cannot attend in-person classes until their testing and self-isolation are complete and they have received negative test results.
Universities and NSCC are contacting their students directly with information about these requirements and the process for getting tested. Students should direct any question to their institutions.
“Testing university and NSCC students during their self-isolation periods can help with early detection and management of cases in the post-secondary population,” said Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, deputy chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia. “Along with testing, everyone following the public health measures — students completing their self-isolation and social distancing – and the plans the institutions have put in place will help keep students, staff and surrounding communities safe during the school year.”
Government is also enhancing the border form for everyone arriving in the province from outside the Atlantic bubble. The new Nova Scotia Safe Check-in allows better data collection and tracking. A digital check-in will soon replace follow up phone calls to ensure people are self-isolating.
Quick Facts:
— each university and NSCC has a re-opening plan on its website that has been approved by the chief medical officer of health and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education
— Nova Scotia Health is setting up additional testing centres where needed to test students during their self-isolation
— the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in is at http://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/travel/
