Thread by @MichaelTGorman

Zoom meeting with @StrangRobert and reporters about to begin. #NSpoli

I'll do my best to live tweet the Q&A. #NSpoli

First, opening remarks from @StrangRobert . NS has been going through a 7th wave, he says. All epidemiology indicators suggest the wave declining. Hospitalization is low in this wave, due to high vaccine rates. Cumulative mortality rate below national average, he says. #NSpoli

Strang encourages people to follow public health protocols. He's concerned people are becoming too complacent. People need to think about the collective wellbeing, he says. "It's nothing new. It's what we've been talking about for the last 2.5 years."

New vaccine plan for the fall: first booster for kids 5-11. Bookings to open soon. (only about 50% in that age group already have two doses). An additional dose for people 12+, regardless of how many they've had so far, will also soon be available. #NSpoli

Strang gives a shoutout to pharmacies that have helped administer vaccines to kids. #NSpoli

Strang says they're waiting on news about availability of bivalent vaccines. He expects more info next week from the feds. He encourages people 12+ with two or more doses to wait for the fall program before getting another shot. #NSpoli

Vaccines alone are not sufficient protection, says @StrangRobert His office recommends people make the personal choice to wear masks while in crowded indoor spaces and stay home when feeling unwell. #NSpoli

We're now on pause, as the connection froze. Standby. If only there was another way to do this. #NSpoli

He's back!

.@StrangRobert says people should be careful about how they gather and taking steps to protect people who are older and/or at greater risk of getting sick. These tools have been successful throughout the pandemic and he's confident people will remind themselves to do it. #NSpoli

After giving props to the Canadian women's rugby team, Strang turns it over for questions.

Q: What's the modelling for the fall?
A: Things so far have been similar to what was predicted. He's expecting things to stabilize as this wave crests. #NSpoli

His office is watching for the possibility of a significant surge in the fall or winter, combined with the flu. "That situation would create significant strain" on health-care system, but that's difficult to predict.

Main question for Strang is whether a new variant emerges or the illness remains as we know it now.

Strang says mandates and tighter restrictions carry their own issues and that remains the balance his office is mindful of achieving. "I overall goal is to minimize overall harms." #NSpoli

Q: What's your advice to parents regarding managing risk at schools?
A: Continue to recommend students wear a mask in school whenever possible, particularly indoors in large groups. Also, stay home when ill. #NSpoli

Getting up to day with vaccines is also important, he says. Concerned only about 1/2 of 5-11 age group are vaccinated. Encourages parents to get their kids vaccinated. #NSpoli

Q: If there's a big surge in the fall, might we see more regular updates?
A: "We're always looking at our overall response." #NSpoli

Q: How do you see people being too complacent with COVID?
A: People are tired. He gets it. But the removal of mandates does not mean COVID is over and there is no need to take precautions. Says this wave is a "significant surge." #NSpoli

Strang says he's hearing too many stories about people getting COVID and not staying home. Too many people think covid is not a big issue. Vaccines are helping, but the disease is bad for many who get it, he says. #NSpoli

The collective obligation is to look after people who are at severe risk. "We don't need mandates and lockdowns," but the tools are in place to keep people safe, he says. #NSpoli

Even when there were mandates, we still relied on people doing the right thing, says Strang. The obligation rests with each household to do what is right, he says. Just because there isn't a legal mandate does not mean people are without responsibility, he says. #NSpoli

Q: Does it still make sense to have a vaccine mandate for front-line health-care workers? What's been the effect elsewhere when it's happened?
A: That's a policy decision made by the health authority. Public Health has no say on that. #NSpoli

Q: Did you recommend not making masks mandatory in school?
A: That was a conversation his office had with @nsgov. They landed on the position that it's recommended, but does not need to be mandated. He also did not make a recommendation to universities for a mandate. #NSpoli

Strang says the position could change if there is another surge.

Q: What percentage of people are actually reporting positive test results?
A: There's no way to know. Strang continues to encourage people to report positive test results. #NSpoli

Q: Would you add reported test results to the COVID dashboard?
A: They're looking at doing something, but there are concerns about the reliability of information connected to rapid test results. #NSpoli

Q: Is your office OK with the current death rate?
A: We want as few as possible. The tools are there to protect people at the highest risk. That means people using masks and staying home while sick and taking extra steps when visiting elderly people. #NSpoli

.@StrangRobert says the efforts people have made throughout the pandemic have helped and people should continue with that. #NSpoli

Q: At what point does it become necessary to bring back mandates?
A: That would require "a very substantive change" in the virus. Strang says people know what they need to know and have the tools they need to protect themselves and others. #NSpoli

He notes mandates had their own impacts on people and the systems they use. #NSpoli

Q: What's the risk of long covid on the health-care system?
A: Still a lot of research that needs to be done to understand this. Hard to predict, but there will be some people with chronic, sustained symptoms. #NSpoli

Q: What's the message to people about today's update?
A: COVID is still here. It hasn't gone away. Take it seriously and use the tools we know are effective to provide protection: vaccines, masks, stay home when sick, etc. #NSpoli

Q: Still a lot of people testing positive. What's the metric for changing policy?
A: They evaluate many factors. Right now the focus isn't on total number of cases but what's the amount of severe disease? That includes hospitalizations, mortality and what's happening globally.

Q: Why, if you've had covid, is it a good idea to wait a certain period of time before getting a booster?
A: All science so far shows that waiting 168 days at least makes the vaccine more effective when you get it. #NSpoli

Q: What's advice to people wanting to wait for the bivalent vaccine?
A: Stay tuned. More info to come in the next few weeks. #NSpoli

Strang says they're still waiting for a lot of info on availability, licensing, and other factors. #NSpoli

Q: What's the status of the school vaccination program? Any gaps in coverage?
A: No. It's been a priority to maintain that as much as possible. People who were delayed early in the pandemic have since been caught up and they've stayed on that since. #NSpoli

That's it. -30-