HALIFAX - A flurry of announcements that will significantly impact Nova Scotians throughout January were unveiled at the latest COVID-19 media briefing featuring Premier Tim Houston and the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Strang. 

Originally slated for review on January 12, the current restrictions regarding gathering limits, social distancing and the operation of various public places will now last until January 31 at the earliest. These rules were originally implemented on December 22 to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. 

Other changes will arrive as quickly as 6 a.m. Friday morning, including several new isolation requirements that will now have those who test positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts isolating for periods of five, seven or ten days, depending on their individual vaccination status, their age, and the success of follow-up testing during their isolation periods. 

Friday morning will also see long-term-care facilities strongly encouraged to prohibit visitation for a two-week period ending on January 21, at the recommendation of Nova Scotia's Department of Seniors and Long Term Care. Two designated caregivers will be permitted to enter these facilities to attend to the physical and mental health of a single resident of these facilities, but all other visitors will be discouraged from entering the buildings. 

Monday will see the launch of a paid sick leave program for workers who need to take time off due to COVID-19, whether to get a vaccine shot of COVID-19 test, or isolate while waiting for a test or test results. 

Also on Monday, the first week of classes begins for students in Nova Scotia's public school system, but they still won't be returning to their classrooms. Premier Houston confirmed at the latest provincial briefing that online learning will be in effect until January 17 at the earliest. 

Nova Scotia confirmed 745 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, January 6, and there are now an estimated 6,636 COVID-19 cases in the province.