---
title: "COVID-19 Update: Nova Scotia Postpones Phase 5 of Reopening"
description: The province will remain in Phase 4 until October 4, when its proof of vaccination policy begins.
image: https://news.foodsafety.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/nova-scotia-phase-4-covid-19.jpg
---

# COVID-19 Update: Nova Scotia Postpones Phase 5 of Reopening

The province will remain in Phase 4 until October 4, when its proof of vaccination policy begins.

![COVID-19 Update: Nova Scotia Postpones Phase 5 of Reopening](https://news.foodsafety.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/nova-scotia-phase-4-covid-19.jpg?width=820&height=462&name=nova-scotia-phase-4-covid-19.jpg)

 Published September 14, 2021

With 66 new COVID-19 cases reported in the province today, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang announced that moving to the next stage of reopening is being postponed by two and a half weeks. The province will remain in Phase 4 of their reopening plan until October 4.

## Restrictions in place

People must continue to comply with the Phase 4 restrictions in place, including:

- Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces
- Businesses must wait until Phase 5 to implement their own mask-wearing policies
- People must adhere to physical distancing requirements and gathering limits

## Additional proof of vaccination details

The province also gave further details on their [proof of vaccination policy](https://www.foodsafety.ca/news/covid-19-update-nova-scotia-proof-vaccination-policy), which will take effect on October 4. People in Nova Scotia aged 12 and up will need to provide proof of full vaccination to participate in certain non-essential activities, such as going to bars, restaurants, concerts, movies, theatre performances and sporting events.

**The policy has not been finalized, but will apply to:**

- Full-service restaurants where guests sit indoors and outdoors
- Liquor-licensed establishments, casinos and gaming venues
- Indoor leisure facilities such as play places and arcades
- Indoor and outdoor festivals (but not outdoor events held in public places)
- Spectators for indoor and outdoor sporting events and competitions
- Receptions, conferences and similar indoor and outdoor events
- Indoor and outdoor weddings and funerals

**Exemptions to the policy**

Proof of vaccination will not be required for venues that don’t organize formal gatherings, such as:

- Restaurants that mainly offer takeout and delivery
- Food banks or shelters
- Retail stores

Nova Scotians can access their proof of vaccination [through the CANImmunize application](https://novascotia.flow.canimmunize.ca/en/portal) portal. Businesses can review the application screen or the printed information outlining a person’s vaccination status. Until the province develops a digital system, CANImmunize will serve as proof of vaccination.

The Canadian Institute of Food Safety (CIFS) follows COVID-19 developments across the country that impact Canadian food businesses and will provide updates as they occur.

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