ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Friday was a day to remember that those talking heads regimenting everyone’s life in Newfoundland and Labrador these days are human beings like the rest of us.
The moment came when Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald wished Happy Mother’s Day at the end of her opening remarks at the daily COVID-19 video briefing.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to wish moms everywhere a very special Mother’s Day filled with love, peace and appreciation for all that you do with your children and families,” she said, trying to hold back tears.
A few moments later, Premier Dwight Ball paid tribute to her dedication to keep the province safe.
“She’s been providing the leadership during this state of emergency throughout this pandemic. She is one of the strongest individuals that I have come to know, and over the past few months, her life has been consumed with COVID-19,” Ball said, as Fitzgerald bowed her head to hide her expression.
“So, on behalf of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I want to say thank you to Dr. Fitzgerald, and to wish her a very happy and healthy Mother’s Day.”
The moment inspired one reporter to ask Fitzgerald how she was coping.
“You don’t want to get that emotional again,” she replied with a smile, turning her attention to the staff she works with.
“They have been all working tirelessly for at least two months now. I know that for a lot of us, COVID has been in our lives since the middle of March, but for most of us on the public health team, COVID has been in our lives since Snowmaggedon.”
The storm in mid-January dumped nearly 80 cm of snow on the St. Johns region, causing a shutdown that lasted more than week.
Ball paid tribute to all mothers in the province, be they essential workers, moms juggling child care and work at home, and others surviving on a reduced income.
“What we do know is that all of these women have commonalities. They are intelligent, they’re creative, they’re resilient, they’re brave and they deserve our love and our respect on Mother’s Day and every day of the year.”
Fitzgerald made a point of addressing anyone who is experiencing stress and other mental-health issues, reciting help lines that are available.
The peer support Warm line, 1-855-753-2560, is available 9 a.m. to midnight. The mental-health crisis line is staffed 24 hours, at 1-888-737-4688.
“Please remember there are bright spots in every day, even if some days we have to look a little harder to find them,” she said.
No new cases
In her update, Fitzgerald reported there were no new cases in the province since Thursday.
The total stands at 261. Four people are in hospital, two of those in intensive care, and 244 people have recovered. Three people have died.
The number of people tested is nearing the 10,000 mark, at 9,592.
“This is no small victory, and it is directly attributable to the unwavering fortitude and commitment of each of us,” she said.
But she said everyone has to “tread slowly and carefully” as the province moves to Alert Level 4 on Monday. That hinges on there being no significant hike in cases over the weekend.
The businesses that can open are posted on the government’s website, as well as other changes that take effect on that day. If all goes well, Level 3 will kick in 28 days later.
Fitzgerald said her team is always in consultation mode with respect to measures that are needed to make employees and customers safe.
She also said she’ll reconsider any business that is not yet allowed to open on an ad hoc basis. One of those is pet grooming.
“While the science on disease transmission in animals is still evolving, public health officials are looking at if and how this service can be safely provided,” she said.
Although rented cabins have been allowed to stay open in the province, she said she’s standing firm on keeping campgrounds closed for now.
Up the ladder
Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said Friday a curious attempt to get by the ban on visitations caused health authorities to temporarily stop window visits from family at long-term care facilities last week.
“There was a pause last week because of safety concerns, particularly in Eastern Health, where someone had turned up with a ladder to try and visit a family member on another storey of a long-term care facility.”
Those visits have resumed, he said, while reminding families to consult with the individual care homes about policies with regard to Mother’s Day gifts.
Haggie said he realizes many people are understandably frustrated about the slow relaxation of emergency measures, but public health has to be the paramount concern in all decisions.
“I’m sure at the end of the day, a third of the people will love what we do, a third of the people will hate what we do and the rest in the middle probably won’t have a strong opinion one way or another.”
In other developments Friday:
• Fitzgerald clarified that there were only a couple of cases of COVID-19 detected at the Horizons oilsands site in Alberta, but that workers returning home from there are being closely monitored as a precaution.
• Haggie said the department hopes to resume Gardasil and other vaccinations in the fall when schools reopen in one way or another.
• Ball thanked Fortis Inc. for a $500,000 donation to non-profit organizations supporting vulnerable people in the community.
Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering health for The Telegram
