Starting soon.
We don't know the reason for the delay. Asked, no answer.
Now we're told start in 5 minutes.
Here we go.
Chuck Porter, the minister of emergency services is here, as is Mark Furey, the justice minister.
McNeil: large groups of people are congregating, not following the social distancing rules.
McNeil declares state of emergency. Limits groups to 5. Provincial parks are closed.
McNeil. Starting tomorrow, if you have travelled anywhere outside of NS, you must self-isolate for 14 days. This will be monitored at borders/airports.
McNeil: "This decision was not made lightly."
McNeil: failure to follow the guidelines "puts our social liberties at risk."
Chuck Porter: State of Emergency means government can limit travel & assemblies.
Justice Minister Mark Furey: police will enforce orders around self isolation and social distancing.
Furey: People & businesses will face fines for violating health protection act.
Furey: as of today, police can enforce social distancing with summary offence notices, $1,000/day. $7,500 for businesses/day.
Robert Strang: 7 new cases of COVID-19, all travel-related or in close contact. 21 total now. 13 in last two days.
Strang: 2,100 total tests so far, but now local lab tests can be called "confirmed" without going to Winnipeg.
Strang: we can expect to soon see community spread.
Strang: we need to slow down and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Strang: everyone is at risk. But we all have people in our families and communities that are at high risk. Also, health care workers.
Strang: going for a walk or bike ride is still OK, but use some common sense.
Strang: if you haven't travelled and are healthy, go for a walk in your neighbourhood, but don't go to a crowded beach. Don't bring the whole family to the grocery store.
Strang: jurisdictions that have been able to get on top of this are the ones that we're doing now.
Strang: other jurisdictions in Canada are a couple of weeks ahead of us in terms of COVID spread.
Furey: if you see people gathering in large groups, call the cops.
Sorry, that was Porter, not Furey.
Strang kind of walks that back: before making a complaint, maybe see if people need help.
McNeil: we're keeping the liquor stores open, "quite frankly, there are people with health situations that need access to this product." Although, he says, he realizes this can play a role in domestic violence.
McNeil: most people are following the advise, but they get frustrated when they see people who aren't. Cops went to beaches yesterday, and they were "disregarded."
McNeil: "the spread of this virus is bad enough, but the stress it will put on our health system is critical... that's why we're forced to take these actions."
Strang: "we're going to be in this for weeks."
Strang: "temperature checking isn't that helpful."
