N.S. reports 127 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday

Nova Scotia reported127 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the fifth day in a rowthe province has reported more than 100 cases per day.

Nova Scotia reported 42 cases incentral zone, 68cases in eastern zone, sixcases in western zone, and 11 cases in northern zone.

On Monday, Premier Tim Houston and Nova Scotia's ChiefMedical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang announced the return of physical distancing and capacity restrictions as the province continues to battle an outbreak of COVID-19 at St. Francis Xavier University and the first confirmed cases of the Omicronvariant in the province.

Six people are in hospital, including two in ICU.There are no hospitalizations in the eastern zone, which includes St. FX University.

On Tuesday, Strang told CBC Radio's Information Morningthat Ontario is calling a men's universityrugby tournament held in Kingston, Ont., at the end of November a "super spreader event," and a team from Dalhousie attended the event. There could potentially be a link between the Kingston tournamentand the St. FX outbreak.

"I think what people should understand is ...it was inevitable [Omicron]was going to be here one way or another. It's just unfortunate timing that we happen to have this highly transmissible virus inthe province the same weekend there was lots of social activity and things at St. FX University," said Strang.

To date, there have been 344 positive cases linked to the St. FX outbreak, according to the provincial health department. Due to a backlog in entering case dataintoPanorama,the province'spublic health information system, it's unclear how many active cases are in the province.

There are no new cases reported Tuesdayat Parkland Antigonish, a seniors' living community. Two residents and two staff members from the retirement home have already tested positive and one staff member from Mary's Court, alicensed long-term care neighbourhood, has tested positive.

No one is in hospital. All staff and residents are fully vaccinated, and all residents of Mary's Court have had a booster shot.

Maritime Junior Hockey League

TheMaritime Junior Hockey League announced on Tuesday that it was informed of positive cases of COVID-19 involvingthe Pictou County Weeks Crushers.

A news release said this followed a player testing positive using a rapid test on Friday. According to the release, the affected players and staff are isolating as required by Public Health.

Three upcoming games have been cancelled as a result.

• Thursday, Dec. 6th - Valley at Pictou County
• Saturday, Dec.18th - Pictou County at Amherst
• Sunday, Dec.19th - Pictou County at Valley

Tighter restrictions take effect Friday at 9 a.m.

The province announced Monday that it would impose tighter restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.Recreation facilities, stores and malls, museums and libraries cannot run at maximum capacity unless physical distancing can be maintained.

Indoor and outdoor informal gatherings are limited to 20 people from the same household or a consistent social group. Physical distancing is not required, and masks are not required except in indoor public spaces.

Strang said the restrictions will be reassessed in January.

Testing centres

Strangsaid Friday that given the increase in cases and thehigh number of recent exposures,all close contacts of positive cases must now isolateuntil they receive a negative PCR test, regardless of vaccination status.

Previously, people who were fully vaccinated didn't have to isolate if they were exposed.

Andrew Heighton,COVID-19 director for the eastern zone, said his team hasdone 13,000 PCR tests since last Monday, Dec.6.

He encourages people to book an appointment for testing since the weather may not be the best to stand outside and wait.

"There's lots of fear and anxiety, we're well aware of that, so we aren't turning anybody away at this point if they wanted asymptomatic tests but we are trying to shift our focus on the rapid testing and antigen-based tests for those that need an asymptomatic," he told CBC's Information Morning Cape Breton.

Vaccination clinics

Nova Scotia Health is also offering drop-inCOVID-19 vaccination clinics at a number of locations across the province. Parents are asked to bring their child'shealth card and a piece of identification if they have it.

The province added several school exposures on Tuesday:

• Gaspereau Valley Elementary inWolfville
• Horton High School inWolfville
• Hammonds Plains Consolidated inHammonds Plains
• Millwood High School inMiddle Sackville
• cole Beaubassin in Halifax, which is closed from Dec. 10 to Dec. 16 to prevent further spread of the virus

The province maintainsa list of school exposures here.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported twodeaths and 109new caseson Tuesday. The province has 1,051active cases, with 44people in hospital, including 14in intensive care.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 15 new cases on Monday. The province has 23 active cases.
• Prince Edward Islandreported three cases on Tuesday.The province has 36active cases.