There are now three presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janice Fitzgerald and Health Minister John Haggie made the announcement on Monday afternoon.
The two new presumptive cases are in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region and were close contacts of the initial case of COVID-19 reported on Saturday. The three total cases in Newfoundland and Labrador are two women and one man.
“These new cases are close contacts to the previous case and are not unexpected,” said Fitzgerald.
“In Newfoundland and Labrador as of now, 494 people have been tested. Of those individuals who have been tested, 491 have been confirmed negative.”
So far, 193 people are in self isolation and being monitored by public health officials in the province.
Protect yourself and others
Fitzgerald anyone experiencing COVId-19 symptoms – fever, cough, or difficulty breathing – should call the 811 health line to speak with a registered nurse. An additional 14 registered nurses have been brought on to assist the 811 call volume.
Once self-isolation is recommended, Fitzgerald says a public health official will visit homes to administer a COVID-19 test, if necessary. She says it’s important for people who have symptoms to avoid going to family doctors or emergency rooms, to prevent potential spread.
“You should stay at home and call 811,” she said.
Those who are self-isolating at home should always remain away from anyone else in the home and use a separate bathroom, if possible.
“We need the 14-day isolation because this is the incubation period for the virus,” says Fitzgerald.
“Most people fall sick within five to six days of exposure, but some have become sick up until the 14th day.”
Public gatherings discouraged
Fitzgerald says those with kids at home from school should avoid holding play dates or sleepovers with other children.
“We are in a pandemic and everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones,” she said.”
While there is no direct order coming from government, public health officials recommend all public spaces close, including gyms, fitness facilities, yoga classes, bars, cinemas, performance spaces, and arenas.
Fitzgerald says restaurants should reduce capacity by 50 per cent by removing tables from eating areas, thought take-out and drive thru operations can continue. Buffet services should not be operating during the pandemic.
It’s also recommended to clean frequently touched objects, like doorknobs, remote controls, and telephones.
All that said, Fitzgerald says people are still able to go outside and get fresh air amid the social isolation needed to quell the spread of the virus.
“We encourage playing in your backyard, going for hikes, snowshoeing. But please respect the principle of social or physical distancing,” she said.
No public health emergency yet
Min. Haggie says the state of emergency in Ontario announced in Ontario on Monday is not needed to date in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, officials are discussing a possible public health emergency as the situation continues.
“Under their regulations and legislation, it allows money to flow more freely into areas that otherwise wouldn’t have access to that. We have not, through our whole-of-government approach, become aware of any bottlenecks in terms of resources that we can’t meet,” said Haggie.
“We haven’t gone down that road because I think there’s a difference between how we would operate now with our new public health and health promotion act in this situation. But, anything is possible over the next little while.
Fitzgerald says there is no evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador, to date.
