Today (Saturday, February 13), Newfoundland and Labrador has 26 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The 26 new confirmed cases are as follows:

In the Eastern Health region:

• 9 under 20 years of age;
• 2 between 20-39 years of age;
• 9 between 40-49 years of age;
• 3 between 60-69 years of age; and,
• 3 over 70 years of age.

There are 13 females and 13 males.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact will be advised to quarantine.

There are 285 active cases of COVID-19.

The regional breakdown of the 285 active cases is as follows:

• Eastern Health – 277
• Central Health – 4
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
• Western Health – 4

There has been one new recovery in the Western Health region since yesterday. This means 394 people have recovered from the virus.

There is no one in hospital.

To date, 89,065 people have been tested.

As reported by the Chief Medical Officer of Health during an emergency media availability last night, the COVID-19 United Kingdom variant is in Newfoundland and Labrador. The outbreak in the St. John’s metro area is due to the variant.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health has taken immediate and decisive action to reduce further transmission of the virus and variant. Special Measures Orders are in effect province-wide. These orders will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Newfoundland and Labrador is in Alert Level 5.

Your Responsibility in Alert Level 5:

• Follow Public Health Guidance for All Alert Levels.
• Stay at home as much as possible, except to get essentials like groceries and medications.
• Limit contact with others to your immediate household bubble.
• If you have COVID-19 symptoms, complete the online self-assessment and referral tool available here or call 811.

Public Spaces and Gatherings in Alert Level 5:

• Gatherings of more than 5 people are prohibited.
• Wakes and visitations are prohibited.
• Funerals, burials, weddings, and religious and cultural ceremonies are limited to no more than 5 people, including the officiant.

Recreational Activities in Alert Level 5:

• Gym and fitness facilities are closed, including yoga studios, tennis and squash facilities, and arenas.
• Dance studios and performance spaces are closed.
• Cinemas are closed.
• Bingo halls are closed.
• Outdoor activities, including walking or hiking, are encouraged as long as physical distancing can be maintained and you are not required to self-isolate for any reason.

Health Care Services in Alert Level 5:

• Private health care clinics are closed, except physician and nurse practitioner clinics. Closed clinics can open to provide urgent and emergent care. Virtual options can be provided for non-urgent care.
• Visitor restrictions in health care facilities are in place.
• Regional health authorities have postponed or cancelled some health care services.

Long-Term Care Homes, Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Facilities in Alert Level 5:

• Group activities and activities outside the home or facility for residents is suspended.
• Visitation is limited to only one essential visitor per resident, where necessary. An essential visitor is an individual considered by the resident’s care team to be paramount to the resident’s physical care and mental well-being. They may provide assistance with feeding, mobility, personal care, communication assistance or assistance with significant behaviourial symptoms.
• Residents admitted from the community or acute care must undergo screening, testing and isolation prior to admission to the home or facility.
• Anyone who enters the home or facility must be screened before entry.
• Staff are only to be shared between homes or facilities in urgent situations, where the direct care of residents may be adversely affected.
• Residents are to be monitored daily for symptoms of COVID-19.

Businesses and Services in Alert Level 5:

• Retail stores that do not provide services essential to life, health or personal safety of individuals and animals are closed to in-person service. They can offer online and/or telephone sales with delivery or curbside pick-up options.
• Retail stores that are permitted to remain open are not permitted to sell scratch or break open lotto tickets in store.
• Restaurants are closed for in-person dining. Take-out, delivery and drive-thru options are still permitted.
• Bars and lounges are closed.
• Personal service establishments, including spas, esthetic services, hair salons, body piercing, tattooing studios and tanning salons, are closed.

Effective immediately, Public Health is amending the requirements for Canadian rotational workers returning to the province from non-outbreak sites in Canada. These workers must now self-isolate away from their families for 14 days. They are no longer able to avail of a test on day seven or modified self-isolation.

There are no changes for international rotational workers. These workers returning from international sites or known outbreak sites must still self-isolate for 14 days.

The Canadian Red Cross is available to assist anyone who does not have a place to self-isolate, or those who are in self-isolation and need help accessing essentials such as food and medication. Contact the Canadian Red Cross Self-isolation Helpline at 1-800-863-6582.

People are encouraged to download COVID Alert to help reduce the spread of the virus. It is available for free through the Apple or Google Play app stores.

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place.

• People – The more people you interact with, the greater the risk of spread.
• Space – The closer you are to others, the greater the risk of spread.
• Time – The more time you spend with others, the greater the risk of spread.
• Place – Indoor activities with others are more risky than outdoor activities.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

These practices include:

• Stay informed, be prepared and follow Public Health advice;
• Wash your hands frequently 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;
• Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette;
• Wear a non-medical mask in public indoor spaces;
• Maintain physical distancing;
• Increase cleanliness and ventilation of public spaces and worksites;
• Work from home, if possible; and,
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with others.

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
Tina Newhook
Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-2837
tinanewhook@gov.nl.ca