Today (Friday, October 8), Newfoundland and Labrador has eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.
In the Eastern Health region:
- One between 40-49 years of age; and
- One between 60-69 years of age.
There is one female and one male. One case is a contact of a previous known case and one case is related to travel within Canada.
In the Central Health region:
- One between 20-39 years of age;
- Two between 50-59 years of age; and
- Two between 60-69 years of age.
There are two females and three males. One case is a contact of a previous known case, two cases are related to travel within Canada and two are under investigation.
In the Western Health region:
- One between 40-49 years of age.
The case is a female and is under investigation.
Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its eleventh death from COVID-19. The individual, a female from the Central Health region, was between 70 years of age and older. The department is sending its condolences to this individual’s family and asks everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this time.
There have been 13 new recoveries in the Central Health region and 1,718 people have recovered. There are 14 people in hospital because of COVID-19, eight in non-critical care and six in critical care.
There are three new presumptive positive cases in the province. Once presumptive positive cases are confirmed positive, they are reported in public updates as new confirmed cases.
There are currently 112 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
- Eastern Health – 22
- Central Health – 87
- Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
- Western Health – 3
To date, 315,745 tests have been administered. People can check their COVID-19 test results online here.
With Thanksgiving this weekend, Public Health strongly recommends that any informal gathering taking place in your home for the next two weeks should be limited to 20 people. This will help to limit the number of contacts that each person has to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is consistent with gathering limitations in the other Atlantic Provinces. When you are hosting or attending an informal indoor gathering – be it a kitchen, rec room or a shed – please remember the phrase: People, Space Time and Place.
The investigation into the cases of COVID-19 related to the Central Health region announced Monday, September 20, is ongoing. To date, there are 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to the Baie Verte cluster and 66 confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to the Twillingate/New World Island cluster. There are 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to the Bishop’s Falls/Botwood cluster, which are amongst a group that is closely socially connected. Given the cases in this cluster are epidemiologically linked, there is no need for a change in alert level at this time. The public health investigation will continue to explore the possibility of community spread and make adjustments as necessary. Any identified cases are isolating and Central Health is conducting contact tracing. The source of the clusters are under investigation.
As part of the ongoing investigations into recent cases, Public Health is asking anyone who visited several locations, listed on the COVID-19 website here, to arrange COVID-19 testing. To arrange testing, complete the online self-assessment and referral tool available here or call 811.
People who visited these locations and currently have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to isolate until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve and they receive a negative test result. People who visited these locations and do not currently have symptoms of COVID-19 are not required to isolate until they receive a negative test result. While awaiting their test result, they should monitor for symptoms and isolate should any symptoms develop.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever, including chills or sweats;
- A new or worsening cough;
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
- Runny, stuffy or congested nose;
- Sore throat or difficulty swallowing;
- Headache;
- Loss of sense of smell or taste;
- Unusual fatigue or lack of energy;
- New onset of muscle aches;
- Loss of appetite;
- Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours; and,
- Small red or purple spots on hands and/or feet.
Anyone in the province, regardless of their vaccination status, should get tested if they are experiencing even just one of the symptoms of COVID-19 listed above. Do not assume it is just a cold. There has been community spread and outbreaks across the country because people were mildly symptomatic and did not get tested or limit their activity. It is essential to find any cases of COVID-19, so that Public Health can do their job effectively and contain the spread of the virus as much as possible.
Wearing a non-medical face mask that covers the nose and mouth is required in public indoor settings for everyone ages 5 and over. Information on the Public Health guidance on masks can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/public-health-guidance/guidance/masks/.
All travellers coming to Newfoundland and Labrador, including Newfoundland and Labrador residents, are required to fill out a travel form found here. The travel form can be completed up to 30 days prior to the travel date. Please submit proof of your COVID-19 vaccination by uploading it to your form. Anyone partially vaccinated will now have the same requirements as unvaccinated travellers. Further information for those travelling to the province, including isolation and testing requirements, can be found here.
The most up to date vaccine data and the number of vaccine doses administered is on the provincial COVID-19 data hub. Information on COVID-19 vaccines for Newfoundland and Labrador is available online here. Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout is on the websites for each of the regional health authorities:
Eastern Health
Central Health
Western Health
Labrador-Grenfell Health
Please continue following the proven Public Health measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People are encouraged to download COVID Alert to help reduce the spread of the virus. It is available free through the Apple or Google Play app stores.
For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.
-30-
Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca