NL Reports 11 New COVID-19 Cases and More Local Restrictions

On Monday the province reported 11 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. All the new cases are located in the Eastern Health region.

Of the new cases, five are under 19 years of age, four are between 40-49 years of age, one person is between 50-59 years of age, and one person is over 70 years of age.

Contact tracing is underway. Everyone considered a close contact will be advised to quarantine.

In total there are 27 active cases, 23 of which are located in the Eastern Health region and 4 are in the Western Health region.

There is no one in hospital. To date, 82,530 people have been tested.

Public Health officials have been in contact with Mount Pearl Senior High School, parents and Newfoundland and Labrador English School District and are working diligently to offer COVID-19 testing to relevant individuals. Close contacts are determined and contacted by Public Health. They will also be asked to self-isolate for 14 days after their last contact with the positive case and testing will be arranged as a priority.

Effective immediately, a special measures order is being implemented in the St. John’s metro area for two weeks.

Group and team sports and recreation activities where children and/or adults gather in-person and where close contact is required are suspended. This does not include individual activities such as walking tracks, gyms or private lessons.

Group arts and cultural activities that involve in-person gatherings are suspended. This includes bands, choirs, dance and music classes. Solo performances and individual lessons are still permitted.

In an effort to protect the most vulnerable, a Special Measures Order is being implemented that will reduce the risk of COVID transmission to long term care homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities in the St. John’s metro region. Visitation will be reduced to two designated visitors per resident, group activities will be suspended, and activities outside of the homes will be suspended. Residents admitted from the community will require screening, testing, and isolation prior to admission. Staff will not be shared between homes except in urgent situations where direct resident care will be adversely affected.

The source of the infection for an individual who tested positive on Saturday, February 6 in the Eastern Health region continues to be under investigation.

Public Health is reminding the public of its updated recommendations for individuals affected by the public advisory issued for Bigs Restaurant in Mount Pearl, 2 Olympic Drive, from Thursday, January 21 to Thursday, February 4.

All patrons of the restaurant who have visited or eaten at the restaurant, who have symptoms of COVID-19 or had symptoms in the last two weeks, must self-isolate until they receive a negative test result.

All patrons of the restaurant who have visited or eaten at the restaurant, who do not currently have symptoms of COVID-19 or have not had symptoms in the last two weeks, should get tested but are not required to self-isolate until they receive a negative test result. While they are awaiting their test results they are advised to monitor for symptoms and isolate should any symptoms develop.