N.S. reports 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday

Nova Scotia reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the active caseload to 169.

Thirty-two of the new cases are in the central zone, including 19 that are under investigation, 12 that are close contacts of previously reported cases and one that is related to travel.

One case is in the northern zone and is a close contact of a previous case, and one is in the western zone and is under investigation.

The Health Department says there are signs of community spread in the central zone among those who are unvaccinated, between 20 and 40 years old and socially active.

Fourteen people are now in hospital with COVID-19, including one in intensive care.

Labs in the province processed 4,241 COVID-19 tests on Thursday.

Health Protection Act violation

Halifax Regional Police announced they ticketed a 55-year-old man who refused to wear a mask on Thursday.

Police say they were called to a restaurant in Dartmouth at about 8 a.m. AT to respond to a complaint about a customer who wouldn't wear a mask. Officers gave the man a ticket for violating the Health Protection Act,which comes with a fine of $2,422.

Atlantic Canada case numbers

• New Brunswickreported 78 new cases on Friday and three deaths, bringing the pandemic total to 52. The province has573active cases and 31people hospitalized, including 15in intensive care. The province announced it would return to a state of emergency.
• Newfoundland and Labradorreported 45 new cases on Friday.The province has 109 active cases.
• Prince Edward Islandreported six newCOVID-19 cases on Friday and 39 active cases.