The Chief Medical Officer of Health today announced Newfoundland and Labrador’s plan for living with COVID-19. The plan, ‘A Foundation for Living with COVID-19’, includes five alert levels. Depending on which level the province is in, as determined by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health restrictions will be gradually relaxed. The province is currently in Alert Level 5.

Effective immediately, households may now spend time with one other household bubble. People should not have close contact with anyone else outside the two household bubble. If someone is working and out in the public, people should be cautious about who is in their bubble, so as not to increase the risk to a vulnerable individual.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health will carefully monitor each alert level to determine the pace at which the public health restrictions can be relaxed or strengthened. This depends on several factors including an increase in cases of COVID-19, the speed of community transmission, and the effectiveness of contact tracing.

Based on the assessment of these factors, on Monday, May 11, 2020, the province will move to Alert Level 4. A complete list of the services and activities permitted during Alert Level 4 can be found in the backgrounder below. A complete list of the services and activities permitted during all alert levels will be available at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/.

A Business Response Team has been established to support businesses as they prepare to re-open. Businesses who have questions will be able to email covid19info@gov.nl.ca or call call 1-833-771-0696  beginning 12:00 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, May 1).

For the foreseeable future, all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians must continue to abide by the proven core personal public health measures.

These measures include:

• Stay informed, be prepared and follow public health advice;
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer in the absence of soap and water;
• Do not touch your face;
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue;
• Maintain physical distancing;
• Wear a non-medical mask or face covering when you are in public and unable to maintain physical distancing;
• Increase cleanliness and ventilation of public spaces and worksites;
• If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others;
• Work from home, where possible; and
• Shop online and use curb side pick-up, where possible.

Quotes
“Our plan balances the relaxing of public health restrictions with the prevention of a future spike in COVID-19 cases. As we continue to adapt to living with COVID-19 at our doorstep and in our communities, there is room for optimism but we cannot rest on our laurels. We have to remain ever vigilant and respect the power of the virus.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“This plan marks a change of gear as we move out of the first wave of COVID-19. It lays out a path to enable us to live more normally, but in a way that protects us as best we can from the virus flaring up in the near future. It’s going to take discipline and determination to see it through.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services

“We have reached a turning point with COVID-19 in our province thanks to the incredible efforts of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have shown relentless spirit and determination in the face of adversity. As we navigate the next phase of living with COVID-19, we must proceed with caution and remain vigilant in following the public health measures in place. It is our collective actions now that will determine how COVID-19 progresses in our province in the future.”
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald
Chief Medical Officer of Health

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COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador

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Media contacts      
Jeremy Reynolds
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

 ALERT LEVEL 4

Effective Monday, May 11, 2020

Gatherings and Public Spaces

• Gatherings are expanded to 10 people, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.
• Gatherings at funerals, burials and weddings are restricted to no more than 10 people, including the officiant. Visitations and wakes continue to be prohibited.

Recreational Activities

• Recreational angling and hunting are permitted.
• Golf courses and driving ranges can open.
• Municipal parks are open. Playground equipment in municipal parks is not to be used. Outdoor activities such as walking, riding your bike or hiking, are encouraged as long as physical distancing can be maintained and you are not required to self-isolate for any reason.
• Campsites remain closed.
• Gym and fitness facilities, yoga studios, tennis and squash facilities, arenas, dance studios and performance spaces remain closed.

Businesses and Services

• Limited expansion of child care services.
• Professional services such as accounting firms, law firms, and financial services can offer in-person services. Work from home policies are encouraged, where possible.
• In-person worker and workplace safety training will be permitted.
• Gardening centres can open for in-person sales and service.
• Landscaping and lawn care services can operate.
• Animal daycares can resume operations.
• Retail stores that do not offer essential services, bars and lounges, cinemas, and personal service establishments like spas, esthetic services, hair salons, tattooing and body piercing salons, and tanning salons remain closed.
• Restaurants remain closed for in-person dining.

Health Care Services

• Regional health authorities will begin to allow some health care services to resume.
• Private health care clinics remain closed, except for urgent and emergent care, with virtual care options available for non-urgent care.
• All visitor restrictions in health care remain in effect.
• Orders for long-term care homes, personal care homes, and assisted living facilities remain in place.

Le médecin hygiéniste en chef annonce un plan pour vivre avec la COVID 19 à Terre Neuve et Labrador