ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Siobhan Coady is monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms after staying in Deer Lake on Sept. 21.
The one new case of COVID-19 in the province announced Wednesday is currently in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but the person stayed at the Holiday Inn at Deer Lake on that date prior to traveling to Labrador.
In a statement, the Department of Finance confirms Coady stayed at the hotel that same day. She has not been directed to self-isolate, but will be monitoring for symptoms.
“The minister is exhibiting no symptoms and the risk to the public is considered low,” reads the statement.
Coady has been asked to be tested for the virus by public health.
The new case is a woman under the age of 40 who travelled to the province from Saskatchewan under a travel exemption. She is a non-resident, but was classified as an essential health care worker in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
For one of very few times since the Caul’s Funeral Home cluster in St. John's in March, public health is singling out specific public places that may have been a point of contact.
The flights involved are Air Canada flights 7950 and 7484 departing Regina and Toronto for Deer Lake on Monday, Sept. 21, and PAL Airlines Flight 901 departing Deer Lake to Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Other passengers on those flights are asked to call 811 to arrange for testing.
Anyone who stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Deer Lake on Monday, Sept. 21, should also call 811.
The department has also singled out two retail stores in Happy Valley-Goose Bay that may have been points of contact. Anyone who visited them at the times listed should call 811:
- Terrington Co-op on Tuesday, Sept. 22 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.;
- Bargain Shop on Wednesday, Sept. 23 between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Under health measures, the province restricts essential workers coming to the province from entering public places for the first 14 days when not at their place of work.
The department did not confirm whether or not the woman violated those orders.
The byelection in Humber-Gros Morne, a district which includes Deer Lake, is currently underway, but so far there has been no notification of others at risk of exposure.
