Thread by @PeterCBC

It's your weekly COVD-19 briefing
There are 6 new cases.
-Three in Eastern, all related to travel
-Two in western, one related to travel, one contact of a previous case
-One in Central, contact of previous case
Four recoveries, so 58 active cases.
Two in hospital
#covid19nfld

There has been no indication of onwards spread of COVID outside of affected households says Dr. Fitzgerald.
She says that shows people are following the rules around isolation #covid19nfld

The risk of an outbreak remains high says Dr. Fitzgerald.
She says the team remains focused on the risk from travel.
She says people need to keep their contacts low, don't share food etc #covid19nfld

Do not assume that COVID is not here, your actions should be guided by public health recommendations not your own sense of security or self risk," says Dr. Fitzgerald #covid19nfld

Starting today essential workers including teachers will be able to start booking their shots
May 24 is when they expect to move to phase 3 and start booking adults 16 and older (but will be done on age based approach) #covid19nfld

Plans are underway to ensure that students over 12 get their first dose of vaccine before the end of the school year (with announcement today of Pfizer expanded approvals) #covid19nfld

By Sunday over 200,000 doses should be handed out in NL.
More than 80% of people over 70 have received at least one dose #covid19nfld

The premier says when his turn comes he'll take whatever vaccine is available to him #covid19nfld

John Haggie says in the last 3 weeks they've doubled the number of people with their first dose in NL
The only thing holding them back is availability of vaccines #covid19nfld

The health minister has an appointment booked in Gander for tomorrow evening to get his shot (so I'm guessing he's in the 60-65 group) #covid19nfld

When you're booking a vaccine what's your risk for side effect and what's your risk of becoming quite ill with COVID says Dr. Fitzgerald.
She says offering it to 55-64 is a good balance of that risks.
"It's deemed to be a safe vaccine" she says #covid19nfld

Dr. Fitzgerald says hesitancy is a concern whenever there's a discussion of risks of a vaccine.
"They have been approved, they are safe," she says
She says she wouldn't be hesitant to get the vaccine, but everyone has to make their own informed decision #covid19nfld

Is a third wave inevitable? No says Dr. Fitzgerald, she says we will continue to see cases.
But how people adhere to public measures will determine whether we see a third wave #covid19nfld

Dr. Fitzgerald says they're not ready to bring in additional measures to tighten the boarders yet, they are still considering how to do more testing etc #covid19nfld

The health minister says the camps are reducing staff and sending them home, people are coming home from school and warmer areas, with them comes the virus.
As long as they follow the guidelines then we are an example of "defence in depth" #covid19nfld

Now that we're going to vaccinate students as young as 12, does this delay our target for everyone getting a shot by Canada Day?

It will mean 30,000 more people, it's a week's worth of deliveries.

We're expecting extra Pfizer says the health minister #covid19nfld

Discussions are just starting about how to administer doses for students.
It's early in the planning stages, will they do it in mass clinics or in schools or a combo of both, being discussed now #covid19nfld

Eastern Health is back out to the Federal Montreal today to do more testing, there have been 13 cases #covid19nfld

May 24 is when pharmacies may start offering vaccines, especially in areas where they may not have public health clinics.
Relaxed storage requirements from Pfizer make it easier to distribute those doses #covid19nfld

The large number of cases in NL is largely a factor of what's happening elsewhere. A lot of our travel is with Alberta, there are high incidents there, so we'll see more cases when people return #covid19nfld

Are we considering requiring a negative test before people return to the province?
It would be very difficult to do says Dr. Fitzgerald.
They're looking at testing to reduce risk of spread to households and to the community #covid19nfld

Anyone who works in schools is able to book, not just teachers (as long as they interact with kids)
Who are essential workers? Anyone who had to interact with the public during Alert Level 2. They're not spelling out everyone but incl pharmacy and grocery store workers

Andrew Furey says they're anxiously awaiting more modelling on how quickly cases will come down with vaccination and what that means for expanding tourism.
Says there's a degree of optimism in the air, says it could be a very different summer #covid19nfld

There are always going to be people who can't or don't get the vaccine. It's unlikely we eradicate it at this point says Dr. Fitzgerald.
Eventually we'll live with COVID like we live with other diseases that are vaccine preventable.
Getting your vaccine is important to get there

They're working through how they'll use Johnson & Johnson vaccines. It's one dose, so it's helpful for some people who booking a second shot may be difficult.
Waiting for Health Canada review #covid19nfld

This summer will be a very different summer says the premier.
As vaccines get in arms, this will continue to work.
Not a normal summer but an improvement over last summer he says #covid19nfld

Update from the news release today
The case reported yesterday Tuesday, May 4 in the Eastern Health region that was under investigation is related to international travel.
The case reported on Friday, April 23 in the Western Health region remains under investigation.

This is a typo. Should have said Alert level 5 (when we were in lockdown). Apologies for the confusion