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

Nova Scotia reported 127 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the fifth day in a row the province has reported more than 100 cases per day.

Nova Scotia reported 42 cases in central zone, 68 cases in eastern zone, six cases in western zone, and 11 cases in northern zone.

On Monday, Premier Tim Houston and Nova Scotia's Chief Medical 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 omicron variant 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 Morning that Ontario is calling a men's university rugby 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 tournament and 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 in the 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 data into Panorama, the province's public health information system, it's unclear how many active cases are in the province. 

There are no new cases reported Tuesday at 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, a licensed 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.

The Maritime Junior Hockey League announced on Tuesday that it was informed of positive cases of COVID-19 involving the 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. 

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.