ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — One new case, two recoveries, an update to an advisory regarding a Mount Pearl restaurant, a new advisory regarding a flight to this province and the temporary expansion of testing resources.
Those were the key points in a quite-lengthy COVID-19 update from Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Health and Community Services on Sunday.
But for all that information, by far the biggest virus-related news in the province came later in the day.
The province's daily news releases on COVID-19 are normally issued at 2 p.m. NT, but Sunday's wasn't sent out until 5 p.m and the delay led to many questions and much speculation on social media. There was no explanation from officials about why the release was sent out three hours later than normal, but the public conjecture revved up again in the evening when the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District announced "two individuals" at Mount Pearl Senior High School had tested positive Sunday and that the school would be closed for at least "several days during the investigation."
As well, students and staff have been advised to stay away from other members of their households until they receive further direction.
Please note, the following memo from the District & @EasternHealthNL being shared with @HuskiesMPSH staff, families, & stakeholders this evening into tomorrow morning. More information will be shared with #nlschools as more is known. pic.twitter.com/paXrwHXCgi
— NLESD (@NLESDCA) February 8, 2021
It isn't clear if one of the two cases at the high school is the new confirmed case announced in the update earlier Sunday, which is said to involve a female in the Eastern Health region under 19 years of age.
The source of the infection is under investigation, the individual is self-isolating, contact tracing is underway and Public Health officials have advised any close contacts of the female to quarantine.
Meanwhile, the source of the infection of a positive test involving another female in the Eastern Health region — one of three cases reported Saturday — continues to be investigated. As well, the investigation into the source of the infection for the six-case cluster that developed in the Eastern Health region in late January is ongoing.
With two recoveries in the Central region Sunday, there are 16 active cases in the province. In total, since the start of the pandemic, 393 people in N.L. have recovered from the virus.
There is no one in hospital.
More than 82,037 people have been tested.
Update on The Bigs restaurant advisory
Public Health is updating its recommendations for individuals affected by the advisory issued Saturday for The Bigs Restaurant in Mount Pearl.
That advisory was for workers and patrons who were at the restaurant from Thursday, Jan. 21 to Thursday, Feb. 4. However, Public Health says — as a result of further testing and intensive investigation — the risk to patrons who visited or have eaten at the restaurant is now deemed to be very low.
Sunday’s update went on to note people who have visited or have eaten at the restaurant and do not have symptoms or have not had symptoms in the last two weeks have a very low risk of having been exposed.
As a result, the advisory is now as follows:
- All patrons of the restaurant who have visited or eaten at the restaurant, and 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.
The release noted these recommendations do not apply to close contacts who have been contacted directly by Public Health and have been given advice on self-isolation.
New testing drive-through clinic
As for testing expansion, Eastern Health says, that to meet demand, it has opened a temporary drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at 50 Mundy Pond Road in St. John’s. In addition, the hours have been extended for drive-through clinics located at the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre and the Waterford Hospital.
Only people with an appointment can attend the clinic. This appointment would follow completing an online self-assessment and referral tool or by calling 811 to get referred for an appointment.
The Sunday release also noted passengers who travelled on Air Canada Flight 7484 from Toronto to Deer Lake that arrived on Saturday, Jan. 30, are being asked to call 811 to arrange COVID-19 testing. It is said to be a precautionary move because of a case reported in the Western Health region Saturday.
As well, it was also revealed — perhaps not surprisingly, given all that happened over the weekend — Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, will hold a media availability this morning.
