HALIFAX — Nova Scotia will move into the final phase of its reopening plan on Monday with what officials say is a cautious approach involving vaccine mandates for public sector employees such as health workers and teachers. 

Vaccination against COVID-19 will be required by the end of November for a broad range of public employees, chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said Wednesday, including hospital and long-term care workers, physicians, paramedics, teachers and other educational staff. 

Strang, who had been hesitant to impose vaccine mandates, said the province has reached a tipping point during the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus.

"The fourth wave impacts young people who cannot yet be vaccinated," Strang told reporters. "I frankly think we need to put their safety first … and have people who are being paid to provide care or to teach those individuals be vaccinated."

He said workers will need to provide proof of vaccination by Nov. 30 or face being put on unpaid administrative leave. Unvaccinated employees are required to participate in a vaccine education program, Strang said, adding that all new hires in the targeted sectors must be vaccinated.

Health officials say 80.4 per cent of the population has had at least one dose of a vaccine and 74.6 per cent is fully vaccinated. Premier Tim Houston said Wednesday about 60,000 eligible Nova Scotians still haven't received a jab.

The new vaccine mandate allows for medical exceptions that can only be issued by a nurse practitioner or physician, the premier said.

"There will be a very small percentage of people who can't get vaccinated," Houston told reporters. "But for the rest, the time is up and there will be a clear choice before you. I want to assure Nova Scotians I don't take this lightly."

Also beginning Oct. 15, a third or booster dose of an mRNA vaccine will be offered to people who require it for work-related travel and those who are immunocompromised.

Most restrictions will be lifted Monday, Houston said, including physical distancing and gathering limits for events hosted by a recognized business or organization. But mask-wearing will still be mandatory in indoor public spaces and informal gatherings will still be limited to 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors, he added.

Also starting Monday, people over the age of 12 will be required to show proof of vaccination to access services and businesses the government deems non-essential, such restaurants, movie theatres and gyms.

The government said it would add border restrictions for travellers from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, who will join other Canadian travellers in needing to complete a safe check-in form prior to their arrival. Anyone who is at least two weeks removed from their second COVID-19 dose does not have to isolate upon entry to the province.

"We have no choice but to continue taking this (wave) seriously, there is no other option," Houston said. "We cannot let our guard down."

The province reported 41 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Thirty-two new cases were identified in the Halifax area, four in the province's northern zone, three in its eastern zone and two in the western zone. 

Nova Scotia has 224 active reported COVID-19 infections and 12 people in hospital with the disease, including two in intensive care.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2021.

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press