Coronavirus Disease | COVID-19

The municipality’s Emergency Management Office (EMO) is working very closely with provincial partners at Health and Wellness and NS EMO to respond to and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

The municipality is committed to taking important steps in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

As part of the collective effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, municipal staff who can work from home have been directed to do so. This is part of an overall public health strategy to help safeguard the health of others, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities, by reducing the number of our employees in the workplace where possible while still maintaining operations.

Exercising protective measures like regular, proper hand washing and practising social distancing will help defend against illness - as well as reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Message from Mayor Mike Savage and CAO Jacques Dubé: Together, we’re facing a serious public health crisis. We need to listen and act on the direction of public health authorities. Simply put, by doing your part, you will help save lives. And while it is important that we remain physically apart from one another, we’ve never been stronger together than we are now, at this moment. Read more …

Information regarding municipal programs and services, as well as provincial health messages will be shared via Twitter @hfxgov,  public service announcements and our website.  

For all health related messages, please visit the Nova Scotia Health and Wellness website.

Video updates

Statements to residents 

Statements to municipal employees

Provincial state of emergency

The Halifax Regional Municipality supports the province’s decision to declare a state of emergency.

Municipal staff continue to work with the province to align with recommendations of health officials and the provincial order.

A provincial state of emergency does not impact public safety service levels or the need to maintain a level of core public services. All standard essential services of the municipality – including 311, fire and police – are operational and adhering to the most updated guidance and precautions from health officials.

Municipal staff continue to adjust service levels related to the provincial state of emergency. NOTE: The five-person social gathering limit and two-metre social distancing limit does not apply to Halifax Transit as stated in the provincial order.

Residents and businesses are advised: Under provincial authority, individuals who are found in breach of the order will be subject to fines issued by provincial and local police enforcement.

Municipal updates

General

  • An important reminder to residents: DO NOT call 9-1-1 for non-emergency purposes. Residents can call 3-1-1 and police non-emergency lines.

  • All in-person public engagement and events hosted by the municipality are postponed until further notice. The municipality will provide online engagement options as much as possible.

  • To continue to practice safe social distancing, there will be four virtual special meetings of Regional Council on April 2, April 9, April 14 and April 28, each starting at 1 p.m. The purpose of these special meetings is to deal with matters as determined by the CAO and Mayor.

  • Residents can click the video link on Halifax.ca to “watch on web” and enter the webcast by selecting ‘join anonymously’. 

  • Cleaning staff in all municipal facilities have been instructed to increase the frequency of thoroughly cleaning public surfaces such as door knobs, elevators and counters.
Burn Ban
  • There is a Province wide burn ban in place. The Province announced a burn ban to protect emergency responders, residents and Nova Scotia’s forests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Some Municipalities (like the Halifax Regional Muncipality) have By-laws that apply stricter rules when a Provincial burn ban is announced. Until the ban is lifted, all forms of outdoor burning are prohibited. The ban applies at all times, in all locations regardless of the distance to the woods. The ban includes fire pits and chimeneas. Propane and/or natural gas appliances are exempt.
  • Illegal burning can be reported by calling 911.
  • It is important to protect your home and community. Check out our prevention page for some helpful tips or follow this link for multi language material.
Customer Service
  •  All customer service centres and Planning & Development counter services are closed to the public. Services continue to be available online. 

  • Legal documents and appeals will no longer be accepted in person at City Hall. Residents are asked to fax these documents to 902-490-4208 or send by email to clerks@halifax.ca.  

  • The Access & Privacy Office is advising potential applicants to expect delays in the processing of requests, as many municipal staff are working remotely and are not in a position to search for records responsive to requests. 

Finance
  • The municipality is currently looking at alternative payment options related to property taxes due April 30, 2020. Decisions will be communicated to taxpayers in advance of the deadline and will focus on addressing the needs of businesses and residents. Questions can be sent to proptax@halifax.ca 
  • The application deadline for Community Grants Programs as well as the Tax Relief for Non-Profit Organizations Program has been extended until May 15.
  • There are no changes to municipal employee payroll. Payments to vendors and suppliers will continue, as well as procurement tenders. 
Halifax Public Libraries
Halifax Transit
  • Follow @hfxtransit on Twitter for the most up-to-date information regarding service disruptions.
  • The five-person social gathering limit and two-metre social distancing limit does not apply to Halifax Transit as stated in the provincial order. 
  • Residents and visitors who are feeling ill are asked not to use transit services until your health returns to normal. 
  • Bus passengers are advised to use the rear doors for boarding and exiting. For those who require the use of the ramp for accessibility, the front door will continue to be used. Regular ferry boarding service remains in place.
  • Halifax Transit has been designated by the Province of Nova Scotia an essential service under the current provincial state of emergency. In light of this direction by the province, the municipality will continue delivering the highest level of service that can be reasonably provided – while also continuing to take steps that help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and make buses as safe an environment as possible in the circumstances. Residents are reminded that the level of transit service provided will continue to be adjusted as necessary, based on available operational resources.
  • On weekdays, a 30 per cent reduction in bus service is being targeted. Regular weekday schedules will continue on some routes, while other routes are operating on their Saturday schedules during weekdays. Three routes have no service. Weekend service will not be impacted. Details regarding route changes can be found at halifax.ca/transit
  • Ferry service has been reduced to 30-minute service on both routes,
  • Access-a-Bus passengers are requested to limit trip requests to essential trips only including physician appointments, medical services, grocery trips and dialysis, and prescription retrieval. 
  • All fare collection is suspended on bus and ferry services to support the municipality’s commitment to safe social distancing.  
  • Changes in fare collection are in response to keeping the community safe from the spread of COVID-19 and are not intended to encourage increased use of transit  Buses and ferries should only be used for necessary trips. Please do not loiter.  
  • In addition to changes in fare collection, several other measures have been taken to help reduce the spread of disease, including an increased frequency in wipe-downs of high-touch surfaces, making the first 7-10 seat immediately behind the operator unavailable to riders on buses (this does not impact accessible seating), limiting passengers on buses to seated passengers only, and limiting the number of ferry passengers to 50 per trip. 
  • For riders’ information, some Halifax Transit operators may be wearing masks. This is not a mandated requirement but a personal choice we support.
Halifax Water 
Parking
  • Safety-related aspects of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act continue to be enforced (e.g. no parking in crosswalks, parking distance from fire hydrants, signage indicating no stopping, etc.)
  • Parking fees at meters have been waived and HotSpot fees will be set to zero until further notice.

  • Enforcement of hourly spaces and monthly permit parking is suspended until further notice. Residential permits will still be enforced. If your residential permit has recently expired, you will not receive a ticket.
    Please note: These steps are in an effort to support healthcare workers and residents seeking medical attention. Please be considerate of the duration of your parking. 

  •  In the event normal operations have not resumed by April, monthly parking permits already purchased will be rolled over to the following month.

  • Tickets issued on or before March 19 at noon are still valid and can be paid online, cheque by mail or in person when customer service operations resume. 

Parks & Recreation

  • Consistent with the decision by the Province of Nova Scotia to close all provincial parks, all municipal parks, beaches, playgrounds, sports fields/courts, and many trails are closed until further notice.

    • Residential pathways that connect streets can be used.
    • Multi-use paths along streets that replace sidewalks can be used.
    • Residents can use trails in their neighborhood only, provided that trail is not connected to or in a park.
    • Residents are not permitted to drive to trails outside of their neighbourhood.
  • All municipally owned recreation facilities, community centres and arenas are closed, and all programs and bookings will be suspended until further notice.
    • All programs have been removed from the online registration system, and credits for cancelled programs have been applied as a first step. If residents wish to keep a credit on file for future use, please email the registration team at myrec@halifax.ca by Sunday, March 29.
    • All registrants will receive an email outlining this information, and additional questions can be submitted by email to myrec@halifax.ca. The registration phone line is not active for the time being as recreation staff continue to support ongoing service adjustments related to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
    • All municipal spring recreation programming is cancelled. Refunds will be processed in the coming days.  
    • Summer recreation program registration scheduled for April 1 is cancelled. The status of summer recreation programming will be determined at a later date.
  • Ice surfaces are being removed from some municipal arenas. Should this affect a previous booking, staff will be contacting residents about refunds.
  • The 2020 Volunteer Awards are postponed until further notice.
  • The Youth Live Enviro Depot at 947 Mitchell Street is closed until further notice.
  • The application deadline for Grants to Professional Arts Organization program has been extended until April 15.
Planning & Development 
  • An online form has been created for all permit and sub-division application intakes.
  • Applications for Rezoning, Municipal Plan Amendments, Development Agreements, or Downtown Halifax Site Plan Approvals can be submitted via email to Carl Purvis – Planning Applications Program Manager purvisc@halifax.ca.
  • Revised drawings and/or any amended application information for current files can also be submitted via email, directly to the planner assigned to your file. 
Solid Waste
  • Waste collection is continuing as scheduled.
  • The Household Special Waste Depot program is suspended until further notice.
  • To further support Public Health directives related to staying home and social distancing, the following upcoming Mobile HSW drop-off events have been cancelled:
    •    May 2 - Sackville Transit Terminal
    •    May 9 - Porters Lake Transit Terminal
    Future events will be evaluated on a month-by-month basis. Every attempt will be made to reschedule the cancelled events, conditions permitting.

  • The collection of residential refrigerant gas removal (CFCs) service has been suspended until further notice. 

  • Otter Lake is not accepting cash as a payment method at this time.
Employee Information

What you can do

  • Actively participate in the community effort to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Stay informed and follow the advice of your personal health care provider and governing bodies such as Public Health Agency of Canada regarding COVID-19.
  • Nova Scotia Health Authority has established COVID-19 assessment centres. If you need in-person assessment, 811 will refer you to a centre. Don't go to a COVID-19 assessment centre unless 811 referred you.
  • Exercise protective measures like regular, proper hand washing and staying home if you can. This is important to personal health and helps safeguard the health of others, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities. For more information on practising good hygiene visit novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
  • Practise social distancing. This means staying at least two metres apart from one another and avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings. Greet one another with a wave or elbow instead of a handshake or hug.
  • Residents are encouraged to have no more than two weeks of supplies in the event that they have to self-isolate.
  • Access 211 to find non-municipal community and social services available in your area at this time. This service is available 27/7 in 140 languages.
  • Residents can call 311 for updated information on municipal services.
  • Important reminder:  DO NOT call 9-1-1 for non-emergency purposes. Residents can call 3-1-1 and police non-emergency lines. 

Helpful health links