Public Health is advising residents of potential COVID-19 exposures in our province. There are exposure notifications related to retail locations as well as through wastewater testing.

As part of the ongoing investigation into a case in the Eastern Health region, Public Health is asking anyone who visited the locations below on the date and time listed to arrange testing. The businesses have been notified and Public Health thanks them for their cooperation.

• Costco Galway, 75 Danny Drive, St. John’s, Sunday, August 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Sobeys, 1621 Topsail Road, Paradise, Tuesday, August 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

People who visited these locations during these times are advised to seek testing, in keeping with public notifications for possible exposure. People can arrange testing by completing the online self-assessment and referral tool available here or by calling 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 during these times 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.

Out of an abundance of caution, residents are being advised that through wastewater testing, there has been a detection of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the town of Paradise in the Eastern Health region. While this result is not a cause for alarm, it indicates for Public Health that the COVID-19 virus is in the area. This is why it is important for residents in this area to get tested if you experience one of the symptoms of COVID-19 that are listed above.

Collecting wastewater samples help serve as an early warning system that the virus is present in a community. It can help public health officials provide targeted advice to communities as the pandemic continues.

• The wastewater testing program in the Newfoundland and Labrador uses regular surveillance to identify the presence or absence of COVID-19.
• Wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 began in the province on February 15, 2021.
• This form of surveillance has been found to uncover trends of COVID-19 in the community 4-10 days earlier than clinical data would by detecting the presence of the virus in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic populations.
• Collecting this information can continue to serve as an early warning system for the province and help public health target advice to communities now and after the pandemic ends.

For now, the most important thing that everyone can do to help bring this pandemic to an end is to be vaccinated. This is our way out and every dose matters. Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout is on the government website at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/vaccine/gettheshot/, as well as the websites for each of the regional health authorities:

Eastern Health
Central Health
Western Health
Labrador-Grenfell Health

Additional information related to COVID-19 can be found at https://pattern-loop.live/covid-19/%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E

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Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca