Students Nova Scotia Supports Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
Students Nova Scotia Supports Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
August 20, 2020
For Immediate Release
Halifax, NS - Today, Premier Stephen McNeil announced that the Government of Nova Scotia will be mandating COVID-19 testing for all students returning to the province from outside of the Atlantic Bubble. Students will be required to test 3 times during their 14-day self isolation period, with testing starting on day one. When several of our member schools announced they would be hosting in-person classes - notably StFX and Acadia - Students Nova Scotia identified the need to test students coming from across the country and the globe. We are pleased to see these concerns being addressed in today’s announcement.
“All members of the campus community - from administration, to faculty and staff, to students - need to be working together to prevent the community spread of COVID-19” says Samantha Graham, Chair of Students Nova Scotia. “While my own institution (Saint Mary’s University) will be hosting classes online, students will be returning to the province for a variety of reasons. Particularly here in Halifax, a cut-throat housing market means that many students signed leases last fall, so we have to do everything we can to protect returning students, including providing free and accessible testing”.
While details of the testing protocol are emerging, Students Nova Scotia will be advocating to ensure testing sites are accessible and communications to students regarding protocol are clear. StudentsNS is also pleased to share that testing will be free for international students. When the pandemic started in Nova Scotia, StudentsNS quickly highlighted how the nature of private insurance plans may disproportionately impact international students, who often have to jump through logistical hurdles to have tests approved.
“International students should not have to fear the cost of potential life-saving testing under any circumstance, much less during a pandemic”, says Students Nova Scotia Vice Chair Lydia Houck. “The introduction of mandatory testing protocols will ensure that students know their COVID-19 status, and in combination with self-isolation, will keep our campus communities and beyond safe. We are pleased to see the Government of Nova Scotia step up to the plate and to provide students and community members with a greater peace of mind”.
Students Nova Scotia is the province’s largest student advocacy organization, representing students who will be studying both in-person and online this 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