Feb. 9, 2022 Update:
Today the Provincial government announced that starting at 12:01 am Monday February 14, 2022 the following eased restrictions will go into effect.
Sport training, practice and regular league games/competition are allowed with a maximum of 60 participants indoors and outdoors without physical distancing.
Competition is limited to the regular competitive schedule. The regulations state that if the activity is part of the regular league or competitive schedule it is allowed. Bringing together teams or participants that typically do not play one another is NOT allowed. Tournaments are not permitted.
Spectators will be permitted following the formal gathering limit – 50% of the venue’s capacity.
This is the first step in a three phase/step process. This phase is currently planned to last about a month. The situation will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis and only when it is safe to do so will the restrictions will aim to move into the second step.
Review press release from the province (click here).
Review details of the opening plan – three phases (click here).
Feb. 4, 2022 Update:
Starting Monday, February 7, restrictions are easing for sports practices and arts and culture rehearsals. All other restrictions will remain in place until February 14.
Sports practices and rehearsals for arts and culture performances can have up to 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors. They cannot have multiple groups, games or performances. Spectators are still not permitted.
Review press release from the province, click here.
Review press release from Sport Nova Scotia, click here.
Jan. 26, 2022 Update:
The Province is extending province-wide health restrictions, including those impacting cross-country skiing, until February 14 to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Review press release from the province, click here.
Jan. 5, 2022 Update:
The province announced that the restrictions currently in place, including those impacting cross-country skiing, will remain in effect until at least Jan. 31, 2022.
Review press release from the province, click here.
Dec. 23, 2021 Update:
The Province has provided the following clarification regarding the current restrictions limiting sport and recreation to cohorts of 10: more than one cohort is allowed as long the cohorts are distanced from each other the entire time. There can be no intermingling of cohorts so the space would have to allow for distancing between cohorts, staggered entry into the facility and onto the field of play, separate change rooms etc. Effective immediately.
Review Sport Nova Scotia press release, click here.
Dec. 21, 2021 Update:
The Province is strengthening restrictions around masking, gatherings and physical distancing to protect the healthcare system and other critical workforces from the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The updated restrictions below replace the list released last week and are effective at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, December 22. They will be in place until at least January 12 and will be re-evaluated then. The following restrictions, impacting cross-country skiing, are as follows:
Physical distance and mask requirements
· Physical distance of two metres (six feet) is required indoors and outdoors, except among people in the same household or a consistent social group of up to 10 people.
Gathering limits
· Only virtual events are allowed – there are no in-person events such as festivals, social events, special events (including receptions), sports games or tournaments, or arts and culture performances.
· A limit of 10 participants indoors and 25 outdoors applies to sports practices and training; physical distance is not required, and masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors; spectators are not allowed.
· Nova Scotia children ages 11 and younger continue to be restricted from participating in sports and arts and culture events outside the province.
Proof of Vaccination
· There is no change in the requirement for proof of full vaccination for discretionary activities. It is still required for attendees and volunteers, even in places where gathering limits and physical distance will apply.
Review the press releases from the Province: Further Province-Wide Restrictions to Slow Omicron Variant (2:16p.m.) , Additional Province-Wide Restrictions to Slow Omicron Variant (2:17p.m.)
Review Sport Nova Scotia release, click here.
Dec. 13, 2021 Update:
In light of recent COVID-19 outbreaks and the threat of the new Omicron variant, physical distance and gathering limits are returning to help protect Nova Scotians and the health system over the next few weeks.
Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Mon, Dec 17, until at least the new year. The following restrictions, impacting cross-country skiing, are as follows:
· Tournaments are not permitted.
· A limit of 60 participants indoors and outdoors applies to sports practices; physical distancing is not required. Provincial team and club level practices for provincial athletes continue.
· Children age 11 and younger continue to be restricted from entering Nova Scotia to participate in sports and are also restricted from participating in them outside Nova Scotia.
Review the press release from the Province, click here.
Review Sport Nova Scotia release, click here.
Sept. 14, 2021 Update:
The province announced that the move to Phase 5 of the provincial reopening plan will be delayed until Oct. 4.
To read the province’s press release, click here.
As stated in Sport Nova Scotia’s update below, “Starting Oct. 4, people who are 12 and older will need to provide proof of full vaccination to participate in most events and activities that bring groups of people together. While the policy is not yet final, it will apply to participants and spectators for indoor and outdoor sports practices, games, competitions and tournaments as well as indoor and outdoor extracurricular school-based activities, including sports.” We all need to do our part to ensure we get to Phase 5. As part of this effort, we once again strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated to do so.
Sport Nova Scotia, Sept. 14, 2021 Update:
Today the province announced that Nova Scotia will delay moving into phase 5 of the reopening plan until October 4. Starting Oct. 4, people who are 12 and older will need to provide proof of full vaccination to participate in most events and activities that bring groups of people together. While the policy is not yet final, it will apply to participants and spectators for indoor and outdoor sports practices, games, competitions and tournaments as well as indoor and outdoor extracurricular school-based activities, including sports.
We will continue to update you as more information about the details of the vaccine policy become available to us.
Quick Notes
-An exception policy for people who cannot get vaccinated because of a valid medical or behavioural reason is being developed.
–Children who turned 12 between January 1 and October 4 this year will have until December 31 to attend events and activities while they get vaccinated; children who turn 12 after October 4 will have three months from their birthday.
The health of our cross-country ski community is top priority. We are working diligently on the continual development of our return to sport guidelines, in compliance with rules established by the Nova Scotia Government. Our cross-country ski clubs will take steps necessary to ensure safe skiing environments. We will continue to partner with Sport Nova Scotia to update our guidelines, to ensure a safe return to skiing.
Please refer to the Nova Scotia government website for the most up-to-date COVID-19 protocols. CCNS will provide COVID-19 updates on our website. We thank-you in advance for taking the time to review and apply the necessary actions, which contribute to a safe skiing environment.
Links
>Government of Nova Scotia COVID-19 | Proof of Vaccination
>Government of Nova Scotia COVID-19 | Homepage
Cross Country Nova Scotia 