COVID-19: Provincial announcements and highlights from April 9-13

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Highlights:

  • Nova Scotia reported its third COVID-related death. As of April 13, 2020, there are 474 confirmed cases in the province.
  • 211 has launched a new service to connect people needing COVID-19 assistance with the Canadian Red Cross. The Red Cross will act as a navigator to link people to the services they need. The Red Cross will also offer wellness check-ins for Nova Scotians who are isolated and experiencing loneliness and anxiety
  • Payment for more than 480 small-business fees will be deferred until June 30 to keep cash in small business hands
  • Applications are now open for the $40 million Worker Emergency Bridge Fund and Small Business Impact Grant as of Friday, April 10. Seehttps://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/#support  for more information.

COVID-19: TIR issues FAQ for stakeholders

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To address the high volume of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) stakeholder requests for information, the department has developed a FAQ document to answer some of the most pressing COVID-19 related questions that have been asked of TIR officials by our stakeholders. The document covers FAQs relating to:

  • Construction
  • Vehicle Licensing, Registration and Inspection
  • Trucking & Transportation

Click here to read TIR’s “COVID- 19 Stakeholder FAQ”

COVID-19: Start-ups offering support to small businesses

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Innovacorp has provided two of its investment portfolio companies, Securicy and LeadSift, $50,000 each to help them and their clients navigate the COVID-19 situation. 

Securicy in Sydney will use the funds to deliver a free IT security offering to Nova Scotia small businesses, particularly those that can benefit from the company’s new offering for remote employees. Halifax-based LeadSift will use the funds to offer a free sales lead data analytics solution to local small businesses in the B2B market, who will be increasingly reliant on such a tool given reduced sales-related travel

Click here to access Innovacorp’s full list of resources for entrepreneurs.

COVID-19: Nova Scotia tender notices – procurement portal

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Are you a business that can supply products and services in support of Nova Scotia’s response to COVID-19? If so, we want to hear from you.

A procurement portal has been developed and includes a list of products and services we’re looking for. For more information and to access this portal, click here.

COVID-19: CFIB national survey results from ‘Your Business and COVID-19’

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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)released its fourth update on its national online survey.  Launched on April 3, the survey now has 10,550 responses. 

  • The average cost of COVID-19 on small business so far is $214,915.
  • Results indicated that 65% of small businesses nationally pay rent. At 19%, Nova Scotia had more businesses with signed agreements with their landlord than in any other province. 
  • The provincial Rent Deferral Guarantee program received significant participation. As of the April 5 deadline, 379 landlords have registered, representing 1157 tenants. In total, $10,715,698 in rent has been deferred. 
  • Respondents to the CFIB survey were also asked how their provincial government was doing in providing support — Nova Scotia rated as tied for second in providing support for small business.  

Click here to access the latest CFIB survey results from “Your Business and COVID-19”.

COVID-19: The impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Labour Market

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In March 2020, measures to contain the COVID-19 virus caused sudden, unprecedented interruptions in business across Canada. Within a couple of weeks of the outbreak in Canada, more than 3 million Canadians were affected by either job loss or reduced hours.

Learn more about the virus’s impact on the labour market from Statistics Canada.

COVID-19: Province updates requirements for COVID-19 testing

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As of April 8, 2020, travel has been removed as a requirement for testing for COVID-19. The list of symptoms being screened for has also expanded. If you have two or more of the following symptoms, visit https://811.novascotia.ca/ to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:

  • fever
  • new or worsening cough
  • sore throat 
  • runny nose 
  • headache

COVID-19: Nova Scotia Securities Commission launches COVID-19 Investing Information webpage

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The Nova Scotia Securities Commission has launched a new webpage and online video to provide COVID-19 investing information to the public. Read the full release from the Province detailing this new resource.

Visit Nova Scotia Securities Commission’s page for COVID-19 Investing Information.

COVID-19: NS announces second COVID-19 related death

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Nova Scotia has recorded its second death related to COVID-19. On Wednesday, April 8, a woman in her 90s with underlying medical conditions died in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital as a result of complications related to COVID-19. Read the full statement released by the Government of Nova Scotia on April 9, 2020. 

A reminder, recordings of the Province’s news conferences are available shortly after they conclude on their official Youtube page.