The Department of Health and Community Services is advising the public about changes to self-isolation and testing for rotational workers.

Effective Wednesday, November 25, rotational workers from Newfoundland and Labrador who work in Canada and return from a site without an outbreak are now required to wait until day seven of their 14 day self-isolation period to arrange COVID-19 testing.

Once an asymptomatic individual has completed seven days of self-isolation and has received a negative test result, they can visit public places and extended family members. They must wear a mask when interacting with people outside their household bubble. They must not attend mass gatherings or visit crowded spaces. They must not enter a long-term care home, personal care home or assisted living facility for 14 days after they return home, except for exceptional circumstances, such as end of life.

Any adults in a household of a rotational worker are advised that they must wear a mask when interacting with people outside their household bubble for 14 days after the worker returns home. They should avoid mass gatherings and crowded spaces. It is recommended that any adults that reside in a household with a rotational worker in isolation avoid long-term care homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities, as much as possible.

If the rotational worker or anyone in the household becomes symptomatic, everyone in the household must self-isolate immediately and call 811 to arrange testing.

The public are reminded that this change does not apply to international rotational workers or workers returning from a site with an outbreak. These individuals are required to self-isolate for 14 days on their property. They are unable to leave their property, except to seek medical attention.

Starting Wednesday, November 25, Public Health will be making contact with rotational workers to see if they, or their family, require support in any way during the 14 day self-isolation period and also to provide them with a point of contact for any questions they may have around precautions the family should be taking.

Public Health is reminding rotational workers and their family to reach out to their family or friend network for support, or to avail of provincial resources such as the CHANNAL Warm Line at 1-855-753-2560 or Bridge the Gapp at www.bridgethegapp.ca.

Information for rotational workers is currently being updated by Public Health and will be available on the COVID-19 website later this week.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit: www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

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