Wondering What Happening in Nova Scotia - Here is an Up-Date on COVID-19 put out by the Nova Scotia Government as of June 18th

Here is what is happening at the moment with COVID 19 in Nova Scotia.

With Nova Scotia reporting no new COVID-19 cases for the ninth day in a row on Thursday, Premier Stephen McNeil said the province is "bursting the bubble," and allowing more people to gather in groups or social events.
McNeil said he and Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, agree that the easing of restrictions is warranted.

“Effective today, we are bursting the bubble, to allow gatherings of 10 without physical distancing,” McNeil said in the teleconference update on Thursday. “We know that a lot of you have been waiting for months to come in close contact with people you love. Dr. Strang and I are happy to tell you, you can finally get that long-awaited hug from your grandchild, a parent, or a close friend.”

Those groups are not required to be exclusive but they are strongly encouraged to maintain consistent members.
Gatherings of up to 50 – with social distancing – will now be allowed for social events like faith gatherings, sports and activities, weddings and funerals, arts events, festivals and concerts, but people must observe the two-metre distancing requirement.
Businesses that are too small to ensure physical distancing still can have no more than 10 people.
Effective Thursday, playgrounds can start reopening. Municipalities and other owners of playgrounds will need time to prepare them for reopening so Nova Scotians should not expect them to be open immediately.

A spokeswoman for the Halifax Regional Municipality said in an email that city playgrounds opened on Thursday, with staff working as fast as possible to remove caution tape that had been set up when access was restricted in March.
"We're providing a new option for close social interaction because it's important for our well-being, but everybody needs to make decisions that take into consideration the risks, their own circumstances, and how they help keep everyone safe," Strang said in a statement. "It's important that we all continue physical distancing as much as possible, good hand hygiene, cough etiquette, staying home if you're sick and making informed decisions about the groups and activities we choose to join."

Nova Scotians are also asked to wear a mask when they feel it is necessary.

“Our cases of COVID are down and that's good news, but until there is a vaccine, we need to learn to live with COVID,” McNeil said. “And as we open up our province, including to visitors from other provinces, we have to be vigilant to follow the protocols.”

He said opening Nova Scotia borders between New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Newfoundland and Labrador for a so-called “Atlantic bubble” is under discussion before allowing further travel from the rest of the Canadian provinces. That would mean travellers to Nova Scotia from those provinces would not have to self-isolate for 14 days after they arrived.

“We have to be open to this because tourism is one of the most important industries. It employs tens of thousands of Nova Scotians and we need people to get back to work so they can feed their families and keep our communities alive.”

McNeil did not give a firm date for either move but did say it is his hope that Nova Scotia can be opened “to the country” by mid- to late-July.