The Omicron Variant Arrives
Our province is fighting back against the arrival of the Omicron variant and the StFX outbreak with more restrictions ahead of the holidays.
Public Health says the heavily mutated variant is now within our borders.
The National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg has identified 40 Omicron cases, which were previously reported.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang says they came from the Antigonish area. Delta variant cases have also been identified as part of the outbreak, which has been tied to the X-ring ceremony at StFX and celebrations more than a week ago.
Nova Scotia also reported 114 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.
There are 55 cases in the Halifax area and 52 in the Antigonish region.
“Because of the outbreak at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, the number of positive cases being released today are lab results, not Panorama results,” the province says in a news release. “This continues to better reflect the situation on the ground.”
People who have come down with the virus are experiencing mild symptoms.
Health officials say the cases are mostly young people who are fully vaccinated.
Seventeen schools hit with exposure notices, restrictions coming Tuesday
Over the past several days, many schools have been notified of exposures throughout the province.
They include the following:
- Atlantic Memorial Terence Bay Elementary, Shad Bay
- Basinview Drive Community School, Bedford
- Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Junior Elementary, Timberlea
- Burton Ettinger Elementary, Halifax
- Cobequid Educational Centre, Truro
- Cunard Junior High, Halifax
- Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, Antigonish
- École Beaubassin, Halifax
- École Secondaire du Sommet, Halifax
- Halifax West High
- Hammonds Plains Consolidated, Hammonds Plains
- Kingswood Elementary, Hammonds Plains
- LeMarchant St Thomas Elementary, Halifax
- Lockview High, Fall River
- Ridgecliff Middle School, Beechville
- Rocky Lake Junior High, Bedford
- Spring Street Academy, Amherst
- St. Andrews Consolidated School, St. Andrews
- Tamarac Education Centre, Port Hawkesbury
- Valley Elementary School, Valley
- Waverley Memorial Elementary, Waverley
An exposure notice is issued if a positive case (student, teacher, or staff) was at the school while infectious.
Schools will remain open, but restrictions are being put into place. A site will also be closed down if there is a public health reason to do so.
Until the holiday break begins next week all schools will see the following enhanced measures:
- school sports are limited to team skills training only
- no assemblies and no holiday concerts
- no mixing of classes, including a pause on activities like Reading Buddies
- essential visitors only in schools
- masks are required indoors and outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained
- limited access to cafeterias
Fully vaccinated community members can use school gyms and theatres after hours.
Province-wide restrictions coming into effect Friday
Physical distancing and gathering limits are returning to Nova Scotia to help keep people safe as the virus spreads.
Mask requirements are also being tightened.
Stores, malls, restaurants, and bars will not be able to operate at full capacity unless physical distancing of 2 metres can be maintained.
Informal gatherings will be capped at 20 people, both indoors and outdoors.
Formal gatherings are limited to 50% of maximum capacity, with an indoor max of 150 people or 200 outdoors.
Premier Tim Houston says the presence of the variant in Nova Scotia changes the current approach.
“We don’t know enough about this variant to let things go,” Houston says. “I’m not taking chances with the lives of Nova Scotians or the ability of our health system to care for people. We need to act quickly to get things under control. The way we fight this is no different than what we’ve done all along. That’s why we need to bring back some of the previous restrictions.”
Starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 17, and lasting until at least the new year, the following restrictions will be in place:
Physical distance and mask requirements:
- the physical distance of two metres (six feet) is required indoors and outdoors, except among people in the same household or a consistent social group of up to 20 people
- places like fitness and recreation facilities, retail businesses, malls, museums, libraries and personal services like hair salons can operate at the maximum capacity possible with physical distancing
- food establishments and liquor-licensed establishments must have physical distance between tables and a limit of 20 people per table
- people must be seated to remove their mask for eating or drinking; all other mask requirements for indoor public places remain, including wearing them when seated for other activities
- masks are required in areas of workplaces where physical distance cannot be achieved, as well as common areas, areas where people are serving the public and areas with poor ventilation
- individuals, businesses and organizations all have responsibility for ensuring mask requirements are followed and can all be subject to enforcement action
Gathering limits:
- indoor and outdoor informal gatherings, typically at home, are limited to 20 people from the same household or consistent social group; physical distance and proof of full vaccination are not required; masks are not required except in indoor public places
- gathering limits of 50 per cent of capacity to a maximum of 150 people indoors and 250 outdoors apply to social gatherings, regular faith services, weddings, funerals and their associated receptions and visitation, special events, meetings, training, festivals, and audiences for sports events and arts and culture events (like performances and movie theatres) that are hosted by a recognized business or organization, including faith organizations
- a limit of 60 participants indoors and outdoors applies to sports practices, games, and regular league play; tournaments are not allowed; physical distance is not required, and masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors
- a limit of 60 participants indoors and outdoors applies to professional and amateur arts and culture rehearsals and performances; competitions are not allowed; professionals must have a plan for their workplace; physical distance is not required, and masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors
- children age 11 and younger continue to be restricted from entering Nova Scotia to participate in sports and arts and culture events and from participating in them outside Nova Scotia
- specific organizational plans will be considered for large venues such as Scotiabank Centre, Halifax Exhibition Centre and Halifax Convention Centre.
Long-term care:
- a limit of two visitors at a time with long-term care residents; it does not have to be the same two visitors each time
- it is strongly recommended that visitors have a rapid test within 24 hours of the visit
- visitors can have quick close contact like a hug but then need to stay physically distanced for the rest of the visit
- the requirement for visitors to wear masks and be fully vaccinated, except for end-of-life visits, remains
- residents can only leave the facility for overnight visits if they are fully vaccinated and it is strongly recommended that they have their booster dose as well.
Close contacts must isolate
Changes have also been announced for close contacts of confirmed COVID cases.
“All close contacts, including those who are fully vaccinated, now need to isolate until they have a negative result from a lab-based (PCR) test,” a news release says. “The lab test should be performed at least 72 hours after the exposure.”
Previously, people who were double-vaxxed did not have to isolate if they were identified as a close contact.
Public health is strongly recommending regular rapid testing for all Nova Scotians.
A new outbreak in Antigonish
Public Health is reporting a new outbreak within the Antigonish community.
Health officials say two residents and two staff members from the Parkland Antigonish retirement home have now tested positive.
One staff member from Mary’s Court, the licensed long-term care neighbourhood, has also 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.
Public health is working with the facility to prevent further spread.
