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Although Nova Scotia has dropped all masking and vaccination requirements, air transportation is federally regulated, and is subject to the requirements of Transport Canada's Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, No. 66.
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Vaccination Status
As of 20-Jun-2022 passengers on commercial flights in Canada are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Health Check
Passengers must complete a company health check form prior to boarding indicating that they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, and/or breathing difficulties), do not suspect they have it, and have not had COVID-19 within the last 10 days (per the Interim Order). Since Nova Scotia's quarantine period is only 7 days, persons who have had COVID-19 more than 7 days ago but less than 10 days ago may be exempt from the 10 day prohibition if they can present one of the documents outlined in the next section.
COVID-like Symptoms
If a passenger is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms from an unrelated condition such as asthma or COPD, or they have tested positive for COVID-19 more than 7 days ago but less than 10 days ago, they will only be allowed to board the aircraft if they are in possession of one of the following:
(1) a medical certificate indicating that the symptoms are due to an unrelated medical condition;
(2) a negative COVID-19 molecular test that was performed on a specimen collected no more than 72 hours before the flight;
(3) a negative COVID-19 antigen test that was performed on a specimen collected no more than 24 hours before the flight; or
(4) a positive COVID-19 molecular test that was performed on a specimen collected at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before the flight.
Calculating the Mandatory Isolation Requirement
The mandatory federal isolation requirement of 10 days is counted from the day after symptoms appeared, or the day after a positive COVID-19 test result, whichever occurred first.
Example:
If symptoms appeared on May 1, but the person didn't get a positive COVID-19 test result until May 4, May 2 would count as day 1 of the isolation period. That means that May 11 would be the 10th day, and travel could occur on May 12.
Under Nova Scotia rules, the 7 day isolation period would end on May 8, and travel could occur on May 9, so long as the person could present a negative COVID-19 test meeting the requirements of the section listed above. If after 7 days the person was still testing positive for COVID-19, they would have to wait the full 10 days before being allowed to board a flight.
Face Masks
Passengers are required to wear an appropriate face mask during check-in, boarding, for the duration of the flight, and during embarkation. Due to the short duration of the flight, passengers will not be permitted to remove their mask to eat during flight. Passengers must comply with any instruction given by a crew member with respect to wearing a face mask.
A face mask means any medical or non-medical mask:
(1) made of multiple layers of tightly woven material such as cotton or linen;
(2) large enough to completely cover a person’s nose, mouth, and chin without gaping;
(3) that can be secured to a person's head with ties or ear loops;and
(4) that does not have an exhalation valve.
Gators and handkerchiefs are not suitable.
The portion of the mask in front of a wearer's lips may be made of transparent material that permits lipreading if the rest of the mask is multiple layers of tightly woven materials with a tight seal between the transparent material and the rest of the mask.
Denial of Boarding and Potential Penalties
Anyone who refuses to wear a face mask, has had COVID-19 within the previous 10 days or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 without having a medical certificate or appropriate COVID-19 test result, will be denied boarding. In the case of tourist seats/flights, no refund, compensation, or consideration will be given.
The air carrier is required to report to Transport Canada the reason for the denial of boarding and information regarding the identification of the passenger.
Persons who provide false or misleading information may be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and up to $25,000 for corporations.
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