Today (Monday, March 1), Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Eastern Health region.
The individuals, both males, are under 20 years of age. They are contacts of a previous known case.
Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.
There are no new or outstanding presumptive positive cases.
There are 236 active cases of COVID-19.
The regional breakdown of the 236 active cases is as follows:
- Eastern Health – 232
- Central Health – 1
- Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1
- Western Health – 2
There have been 27 new recoveries in the Eastern Health region. This means 743 people have recovered.
There are 11 people in hospital. Of these patients, six are in intensive care.
To date, 112,932 people have been tested.
People are reminded that they can check their COVID-19 test results online here.
The department is advising the public that a positive case of COVID-19 reported on Monday, February 22, 2021, has since been determined to be false. This means the individual does not have COVID-19. It is no longer included in the total number of confimed cases in the province.
The department is advising rotational workers about an identified COVID-19 outbreak at the Canadian Natural Resources Kirby oil sands site in Alberta. The department was notified about the outbreak by the Public Health Agency of Canada as individuals from this province work at the site. A list of worksites with declared outbreaks can be found online here.
Rotational workers who have returned to Newfoundland and Labrador in the last 14 days must self-isolate and physically distance away from household members, and complete the online self-assessment and referral tool available here or call 811 to arrange testing. These workers must complete the full 14-day self-isolation period.
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.
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.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s COVID-19 vaccination plan is available online here.
Pre-registration is underway for people 70 years of age and older.
People who have access to the Internet are encouraged as much as possible to use the online pre-registration option. They can pre-register online here. Anyone who knows of someone who is eligible to pre-register and may need assistance with online pre-registration are encouraged to help as you can pre-register on someone’s behalf.
A telephone pre-registration option is available for people who do not have access to the Internet and cannot pre-register online. They can call 1-833-668-3930 or 709-273-3930 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week.
To ensure a smooth pre-registration process, people 70 years of age and older are asked to wait and pre-register based on their last name:
- From Friday, February 26, 2021 to Sunday, February 28, 2021, people 70 years of age and older with last names starting with A to F could pre-register.
- From Monday, March 1, 2021 to Wednesday March 3, 2021, people 70 years of age and older with last names starting with G to L can pre-register.
- From Thursday, March 4, 2021 to Saturday, March 6, 2021, people 70 years of age and older with last names starting with M to Z can pre-register.
As of Sunday, March 7, 2021, people 70 years of age and older who were unable to pre-register during the dates listed above can do so.
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