Premier clarifies confusion over self-isolation for workers entering Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia's premier says all out-of-province workers who have entered Nova Scotia will need to self-isolate, just like everyone else entering by car,plane or sea.

Last week, residents of Chticamp, a small Cape Breton fishing community,expressed worry that out-of-province fisheries workers could bring COVID-19 to their village.

At the time, a spokesperson for the province said if theworkers were healthy, they were exempt from the usual public health rules.

On Tuesday, Premier Stephen McNeil said there was amisunderstanding.

"If you're coming into our province, regardless of where you're coming from, we expect you to self-isolate," he said.

The federal government indicated they would also look into the matter.

"They are essential workers, no one is questioning that," saidCape Breton-Canso MPMike Kelloway."We also have provincial emergency protocols in place that must be followed for those that are outside of the province of Nova Scotia."

Leonard LeBlanc represents fishermen on the board of the Gulf of Nova Scotia Fishermen's Coalition.

He also expressed confusion over the rules about self-isolation, saying he was told last week that people coming into Chticamp on fishing vessels were not asked to isolate.

LeBlanc was pleased to hear that any out-of-province worker would need to self-isolate.

"I think this decision will go a long way for appeasing the community," he said.

As of Tuesday, there are 310 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia.

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