ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Telegram
@StJohnsTelegram
For the first time since the coronavirus came to the province in early March, there are no known active cases in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Department of Health confirmed Thursday that 258 people have recovered from COVID-19. Three people died from complications of the disease.
To date, 15,322 people have been tested. That number does not include more than one test being done on the same person.
Outside the House of Assembly Thursday, Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said he was happy with the news.
“I think it’s a real testament to the people of the province,” he said. “They’ve listened, they’ve done everything we’ve asked them. Again, I can’t say enough good things about public health and the health-care system in general. We’re on par with New Zealand.”
However, Haggie said New Zealand, which has dropped all of its health orders and is starting to reopen its borders, is a little ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The view from our medical officer of health was that we should take it steadily and allow time to see what each change would bring about so that if there was a problem we could hold there or we could go back,” he said. “We’ve done well. We’re ahead of schedule with (Alert) Level 2. I think that’s pretty good.”
The province is scheduled to transition to Alert Level 2 on June 25.
Haggie said it’s still not time for the province to let down its guard, since there are still up to 350 people arriving in the province every day under travel exemptions.
“We don’t know whether or not some of those people may have been pre-symptomatic or gotten the virus, which is why we’re still focusing on border control,” he said.
He also said no pandemic in history has escaped a second wave of cases, or even multiple waves.
The Department of Health continues to urge people to practise infection prevention and control as the province prepares to enter Alert Level 2 next Thursday.
More information is available online at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.
With files from David Maher