Students Nova Scotia Supports COVID-19 Testing for Students in January

Students Nova Scotia Supports COVID-19 Testing for Students in January

December 18, 2020

For Immediate Release

Halifax, NS - Today, Premier Stephen McNeil and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang announced that the Government of Nova Scotia will be providing COVID-19 testing for all students returning to the province from outside of the Atlantic Region in January. Students are encouraged to be tested days 6, 7, or 8 of their 14-day quarantine, which will remain in place. Students Nova Scotia advocated for student-specific COVID-19 testing during our annual Advocacy Week.

“We understand that after an incredibly stressful semester, many students will be returning home for the holiday break” says Samantha Graham, Chair of Students Nova Scotia. “As a result, thousands of students will be travelling in and out of Nova Scotia within a short time period, including to jurisdictions with less strict COVID-19 restrictions. In order to keep our campuses and communities safe, COVID-19 testing will act as a safeguard against community spread”.

Students seeking testing are to resubmit the Nova Scotia Safe Check-In form that was used in September, which will allow students to book their appointments when they return to the province in January. Students Nova Scotia is incredibly optimistic about this protocol, as students and young adults across Nova Scotia have been stepping up to receive asymptomatic testing, particularly after the closing of bars and restaurants across the Halifax Regional Municipality.

“When Premier MacNeil and Dr. Strang asked young people to get tested, we came out in full force”, says Students Nova Scotia Vice Chair Lydia Houck. “We are confident that students will not only respect the 14-day quarantine period, but will adhere to these testing suggestions because we care about our communities. We are asking all students, asymptomatic or not, to get tested in January like we have this past December”.

Students Nova Scotia is the province’s largest student advocacy organization, representing students who will be studying both in-person and online next semester. StudentsNS has advocated for testing to the provincial government and are pleased to see today’s announcement.

For more information, contact:

Clancy McDaniel

StudentsNS Executive Director

director@studentsns.ca   

(902) 476-2367