ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The St. John’s region — including everywhere north of Witless Bay and everywhere east of Conception Bay South — is essentially in total lockdown as of midnight Wednesday as Public Health officials try to tamp down a mushrooming outbreak of COVID-19.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald announced 85 new cases of the disease in a late afternoon briefing, 32 of them presumptive positive tests that have yet to be confirmed through the provincial microbiology laboratory in St. John’s.
“We continue to see high case counts and we should expect this to continue as contact tracing and testing continues,” Fitzgerald said.
The case counts, rising from 11 to 36 to 85 in three days, so far suggest untethered spread, but Fitzgerald has said contact tracing and testing is more rigorous and efficient than it was when the pandemic first hit in 2020.
“I believe that going so long with low case counts of COVID led to complacency and we are now seeing the repercussions,” she said Wednesday. “This is something we had worried about and cautioned against.”
The province now has 110 active cases, almost all in the Eastern Health region. Of Wednesday’s numbers, 44 are people under the age of 20.
There are no hospitalizations.
Mount Pearl Senior High School has been the focal point of the cases. The school has been closed all week, and Fitzgerald had a message for all students and teachers who are now being tested for the coronavirus.
“This is an important lesson for parents and communities, particularly those outside the metro area, who have a window of opportunity now to change their daily interaction and prevent a similar situation in their town.” — Dr. Janice Fitzgerald
“You must self-isolate for this entire period, regardless of whether you’ve had a negative test result.”
She said she is unaware of cases involving other schools so far.
Fitzgerald was blunt in her assessment of how so many cases have occurred in such a short time.
“Children and youth have been involved in extensive extracurricular and social activities resulting in high numbers of close contacts and now widespread virus transmission,” she said. “People with mild symptoms have not been seeking testing, and have been unknowingly transmitting COVID-19.”
You should also get tested if you have two or more of the following:
— Dr. Janice Fitzgerald (@CMOH_NL) February 9, 2021
•Headache
•Sore throat
•Painful swallowing
•Runny nose
•Diarrhea
•Loss of sense of smell or taste
•Unexplained loss of appetite, or
•Small red or purple spots on the hands or feet.
She said all communities around the province should learn something.
“This is an important lesson for parents and communities, particularly those outside the metro area, who have a window of opportunity now to change their daily interaction and prevent a similar situation in their town.”
But she also encouraged people to keep their feelings in check.
“I caution you not to channel your emotions towards individuals who have tested positive for COVID,” she said. “No one sets out to get or transmit COVID. Imagine how these people must feel. They do not need social stigma on top of what they’re coping with.”
Gatherings restricted
Fitzgerald announced a string of new mandatory closures and bans Wednesday, including one for the entire province.
All sports, recreational and other activities that involve close contact are suspended across Newfoundland and Labrador. The status will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
For the St. Johns region, she recommended all schools and post-secondary institutions close. Most have already done so.
Formal gatherings such as weddings are now limited to 10 people, while wakes and visitations are prohibited.
"“We strongly recommend, however, if you are able to keep your child at home for the next two weeks that you do so.” — Fitzgerald
Informal gatherings are prohibited, other than members of the household bubble plus one other person who is not connected to any other bubble.
Private health-care clinics can remain open, as can child-care services.
“We must maintain our frontline essential workforce and therefore child-care services are necessary,” Fitzgerald said. “We strongly recommend, however, if you are able to keep your child at home for the next two weeks that you do so.”
Retail closures
A new ban on business openings closely resembles the initial pandemic measures of March 2020.
“Retail stores that do not provide services essential to life, health or personal safety for individuals and animals are to close to in-person service, but can offer online telephone sales with delivery or curbside pickup,” said Fitzgerald.
Services such as spas, hair salons, tattoo parlours and tanning places must close.
Animal daycares and grooming outlets can stay open, as long as they can offer contactless dropoff and pickup.
Restaurants must close to in-person dining, but drive-thru delivery and takeout are allowed.
As of Tuesday, bars, lounges, gyms, bingo halls and cinemas were already ordered to shut down.
Fitzgerald also strongly recommended against travel outside the St. John’s region except for essential trips.
“If there is any good news in all of this, it’s that people are all listening to the public health advice and getting tested. That is critical to containing the outbreak,” Fitzgerald said.
Plenty of tests
Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said Wednesday his department is ready to help Eastern Health in any way it can as the authority deals with the crisis.
“We have rapid-testing kits aplenty, and we have ensured our supply chain is up to the task of any testing that might be required,” he said.
Haggie pleaded for anyone with symptoms or anyone who falls into a category identified in Public Health alerts to get tested.
“A case reported is a case contained, and that is what our aim is at the moment.”
He also encouraged anyone with stress or mental-health concerns to check out bridgethegapp.ca for advice or help.
Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering health for The Telegram. @pjackson_nl
