Public Advisory: Update on COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Health and Community Services

February 21, 2022

Today (Monday, February 21), there are 16 people in hospital because of COVID-19, 11 in non-critical care and five in critical care. There have been 229 new recoveries – 173 in the Eastern Health region, six in the Central Health region, 39 in the Western Health region and 11 in the Labrador-Grenfell region, and 20,147 people have recovered.

Newfoundland and Labrador has 237 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today, February 21. On Saturday, February 19, there were 306 new cases and on Sunday, February 20, there were 124 new cases. Anyone who has tested positive must follow guidelines as outlined here. Cases are advised to notify contacts as per instructions on the website. A flowchart with instructions for close contacts can be found here.

The breakdown of the 237 cases for today is as follows:

  • Eastern Health region – 156
  • Central Health region – 22
  • Western Health region – 56
  • Labrador-Grenfell Health region – 3

There are currently 1,749 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

  • Eastern Health – 1,222
  • Central Health – 205
  • Labrador-Grenfell Health – 80
  • Western Health – 242

A total of 1,131 tests were completed since yesterday. To date, 503,986 tests have been administered. People can check their COVID-19 test results online here.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its sixty-second and sixty-third deaths from COVID-19. One individual is a male over 90 years of age and the second is a female between 70-79 years of age, both in the Central Health region. The department is sending its condolences to the families of these individuals and asks everyone to respect the families’ privacy at this time.

Public Health announced on February 16, 2022, a phased approach to lifting long-term public health restrictions. Effective today, the following restrictions are in effect:

  • Gatherings in your home are limited to no more than 25 people.
  • Formal gatherings are limited to no more than 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity. Physical distancing must be maintained.
  • Religious and cultural ceremonies that require proof of vaccination are limited to 75 per cent capacity. Those where proof of vaccination is not required are limited to 50 per cent capacity.
  • Public visitations are limited to 50 per cent capacity per room. Wakes held outside of a funeral home/place of worship are limited to 25 people.
  • Gym and fitness facilities are permitted to operate at 75 per cent capacity per room or ice surface.
  • Amateur individual and team sport and recreation activities may return to out-of-region competition. However, participants are limited to competition against one single team per day. Tournaments of any kind are not permitted.
  • Restaurants can open for in-person dining at 75 per cent capacity. Self-serve buffets are prohibited.
  • Bars and lounges can open at 50 per cent capacity as long as physical distancing can be maintained between patrons seated at adjacent tables. There is a maximum of 10 people per table. Dance floors are not permitted.
  • Retail stores, including those in shopping malls, have no restrictions.
  • Cinemas, performance spaces and bingo halls can operate at a maximum capacity of 50 per cent per room. Physical distancing must be maintained. Food and drink are permitted as long as physical distancing can be maintained between patrons who are not each other’s close, consistent contacts. Masks may only be removed to eat or drink.

By March 14, 2022, provided epidemiology remains favourable, all restrictions will be lifted, including capacity limits, masking, and proof of vaccination requirements. More information on planned measures can be found here.

Public Health has revised support person/visitor restrictions at all provincially operated acute care facilities, health centres and long-term care homes, as well as privately operated long-term care homes, personal care homes and community care homes. Effective February 10, 2022, two support persons/visitors for each patient/resident are permitted at these facilities. Information regarding the changes can be found here.

Anyone that is a close contact of a case and has symptoms of COVID-19, and anyone testing positive on a rapid test, should consider themselves a positive case and follow public health direction found here. They do not need any PCR testing to confirm. Employers are asked not to require a PCR test for this category of individuals.

PCR tests are still recommended for non-household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms, and anyone that has symptoms but has not been identified as a close contact of someone that tested positive for COVID-19. Our Self-Isolation Assessment Tool can help you determine if you need to self-isolate or get tested.

As of February 5, 2022, there is no isolation for fully vaccinated travellers; however, they are required to take one rapid test each day for five days. There are no changes to the requirements for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.

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. 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. 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
Nancy Hollett
Health and Community Services
709-729-6554, 327-7878
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca

2022 02 21 2:00 pm