Coronavirus Disease | COVID-19

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

For all health-related updates on COVID-19, visit novascotia.ca/coronavirus

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

Exercising protective measures, such as regular proper hand washing, will help defend against, and reduce the risk of, spreading COVID-19.

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

Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Further to our organization’s ongoing commitment to take important steps in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and in light of the October 6 announcement by the Province of Nova Scotia, the municipality is implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for its employees, students, work placements and volunteers.

On October 7, the municipality announced that all municipal employees and volunteers must be fully vaccinated by December 15, 2021 and that any municipal staff who are not fully vaccinated by then will face employment consequences, including unpaid administrative leave, unless they have received an employer-approved exemption. 

On October 22, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended that the optimal interval between first and second doses is eight weeks. As a result, if an employee has chosen to follow NACI’s recommendation, by December 3, the employee was required show proof that they received their first dose on or before November 3, and are on track to be fully vaccinated by January 12, 2022.

By December 3, 2021, any municipal employees, students, work placements and volunteers – including for HRP and HRFE – who did not show their proof of full vaccination, or proof that they have commenced the vaccination process and will be fully vaccinated by Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, may face employment consequences. This could include unpaid administrative leave beginning Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, unless they have received an employer-approved exemption. All other individual situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual circumstances presented.

Full vaccination will also be a condition for new staff being hired. All other individual situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual circumstances presented.

The municipality continues its practice of following the direction and guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Province of Nova Scotia.

Municipal updates

Last updated January  6 2022

Note: Due to resourcing challenges as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, including employee exposures and provincially mandated self-isolation and testing requirements, service standards are expected to be impacted. This includes Halifax Transit, solid waste collection, snow clearing efforts, some recreation centres and other municipal operations. For the most up-to-date information on municipal impacts as a result of COVID-19, visit halifax.ca.  

General

An important reminder to residents: Do not call 911 for non-emergency purposes. For non-emergencies, please call 311 and/ or police non-emergency lines.

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.

The current provincial public health order states that non-medical masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces. Details can be found here. 

Further to our organization’s ongoing commitment to take important steps in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and in light of the Oct. 6 announcement by the Province of Nova Scotia, the municipality has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for its employees.

Customer Service

The in-person customer service centres at Alderney Gate and Bayers Road are open to the public with regular hours.  

The Planning & Development Permit Office, located at 7071 Bayers Road (second floor), is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and then from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays (excluding holidays). 

A number of services offered by 311 and the customer service centres remain available online, including the payment of parking tickets, zoning confirmation applications and applications for all permit and subdivision applications.

As part of the 2020/21 recast budget discussion, the customer service centres and drop-boxes at Acadia Centre (Sackville) and Scotia Square will remain permanently closed. 

Halifax Public Libraries

For the latest information on library services, visit their website. 

Halifax Transit

Due to resourcing challenges as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, including employee exposures and provincially mandated self-isolation and testing requirements, conventional bus service and ferry service will continue to be impacted over the coming weeks. A full list of cancelled trips can be found here.

In keeping with the public health order, masks are currently mandatory on all Halifax Transit buses, ferries and terminals (children under two and those with a medical reason for not wearing a mask are exempt). The two-metre physical distancing and physical gathering limits do not apply to Halifax Transit, as stated in the provincial order.

Those who are feeling ill are reminded not use any transit service until their health returns to normal.

Follow @hfxtransitalert for all Halifax Transit service disruptions, including immediate service loss for routes. 

Parks & Recreation

Please be advised that due to staffing issues caused by Covid 19 at Gordon R Snow Community Centre in Fall River, the facility will be closed from January 8-14th to give staff time to try to find more staff. 

Due to resourcing challenges as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, including employee exposures and provincially mandated self-isolation and testing requirements, some recreation centres are expected to be impacted.

Programs are not starting until after January 14th, therefore, not impacted by this closure. All fitness centre members will have access to the Sackville Sports Stadium and effort is being made to relocate rental groups to other recreation facilities.

Proof of full vaccination is required for people who are 12 and older to participate in recreation programming, and visit recreation and fitness centres – this also includes any parents/guardians and spectators also visiting the centre.

Proof of vaccination is not required for children 11 years of age and younger (they can attend activities with a fully vaccinated adult). The municipality will adhere to the provincial vaccination policies regarding children and youth.

Further information can be found on the provincial website. 

Halifax Water 

Halifax Water will maintain critical services.

Planning & Development 

A new online solution has been implemented for permit applications.

An online form has been created for sub-division and variance 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, at purvisc@halifax.ca. 

Revised drawings and/ or any amended planning application information for current files can also be submitted via email, directly to the planner assigned to your file. 

Solid Waste

Due to resourcing challenges as a result of COVID-19, waste collection may be delayed in some areas.

Curbside collection of Christmas trees, recycling and garbage will continue as scheduled. 

Green cart collection will be cancelled Friday, Jan. 7 in the following areas: 
•    Halifax
•    Sackville
•    Fall River
•    Waverley
•    Cole Harbour
•    Westphal
•    Cherry Brook

Green cart collection services in these areas will be provided on Friday, Jan. 21.

Residents are encouraged to place materials curbside the evening before collection. Materials must be placed curbside no later than 7 a.m. to ensure collection.

For more information, please call 311 or visit halifax.ca/recycle. To receive notifications, including potential service disruptions, please download the Halifax Recycles app.

Employee Information

Further to our organization’s ongoing commitment to take important steps in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and in light of the Oct. 6 announcement by the Province of Nova Scotia, the municipality has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for its employees.

For employee updates regarding COVID-19, including the mandatory vaccination policy, please visit: https://www.hrmmatters.ca/coronavirus. 

What you can do

  • For all information on COVID-19 testing, self-assessments and prevention, visit novascotia.ca/coronavirus.
  • Access 211 to find non-municipal community and social services available in your area at this time. This service is available 24/7 in 140 languages.
  • Residents can call 311 for updated information on municipal services.

Provincial state of emergency

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

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.

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.