Games on hold for two more weeks due to COVID-19

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer, stressed the importance of sticking with small groups as sport competition remains on pause for an additional twoweek period.

The Province of Nova Scotia announced on Friday that restrictions for all sport will remain in place until Jan. 25.

Teams or groups of up to 25 participants will be able to practice or train provided proper social distancing is followed. Games and competitions are not permitted during this timeframe.

“We know that as soon as you allow competitions to happen you increase the social interaction and not just between two teams, but also with spectators, parents, etc.” Dr. Strang said during the COVID-19 update. “As I’ve said many times, COVID response is about a balance. We want to give people a safe opportunity to be physically active. We also want them to be intellectually active so we have libraries and museums opened.

“But we’ve said it introduces too much risk of the social and connected side if we allow competitions. I think that’s a very reasonable balance. Keep sticking with our priorities of small social interactions, of having kids in school, allowing people to be active physically and intellectually, but not opening things up broader. It comes back to how we need to be very careful and strict about our social interactions.”

The announcement also stated that fitness facilities can operate at 50 percent of capacity and have three metres between people for highintensity activities, including indoor and outdoor fitness classes.