Thread by @PeterCBC

It's a COVID-19 briefing, the premier says we're in a "solid situation"
Reiterates some of the highest vaccination rates in the country.
He says most things will return to normal by the middle of March #covid19nfld

Andrew Furey says we've trusted the science, and the team at public health for 2 years and we can trust them now
"the light at the end of the tunnel is shining brighter every day"

There are three new deaths from COVID
There are 16 hospitalizations
There are 179 new cases, 178 recoveries
Since yesterday 869 tests
#covid19nfld

Laboratory testing numbers remain stable, hospitalizations have taken a drop.
She says infections in long term care homes are not needing hospitalizations, a sign the vaccine is working
"we appear to have passed the peak of the omicron wave" #covid19nfld

Dr. Fitzgerald says the measures were needed to make sure hospitals weren't overwhelmed in the omicron wave.

On Feb 21, informal gatherings 25 people
Faith based gatherings 75% (with vax pass)
Gyms, Restaurants up to 75%
Sports out of region competition, but only 1 game a day (no tournaments)
Retail stores no restrictions
No changes to bars, theatres, still 50%
#covid19nfld

All border control and travel restrictions dropped Feb 28
Rapid testing will be voluntary
#covid19nfld

By March 14 they anticipate dropping restrictions on masking, proof of vaccination, and limits
Masking will continue to be strongly recommended #covid19nfld

If a child is exposed at daycare, but if they don't have symptoms they can continue to go to daycare

If they're exposed in their house, they have to isolate (even without symptoms)
#covid19nfld

Dr. Fitzgerald says she recognizes that lifting restrictions will cause anxiety.
She says they must make decisions at a population level.
She has to only impose restrictions where reasonably required.
She says this isn't because of protests #covid19nfld

The CMOH says just because measures are being dropped doesn't mean that you need to drop your own personal protections #covid19nfld

There are unintended consequences of extended isolation.
If senior parents want to do more activities, support them in doing it she says

The advise is changing, people will have to make their own judgments #covid19nfld

"This is a big shift for all of us" she says, be kind, not everyone will make this shift at the same time #covid19nfld

The health minister is up now, he says lifting measures in response to science
Please don't ask for a negative test to go back to work. You can still test positive even after you're recovered, use guidance from public health
"It's time to get back to our new normal" #covid19nfld

They're looking at number of cases and hospitalizations, they show we're on the downslope says Dr. Fitzgerald.
The number of deaths lags behind where the peak would be (3 weeks behind) she says, so we may see more even with other numbers going down #covid19nfld

The vaccine passport will be used until March 14 says the premier then it will be discontinued #covid19nfld

No update on the website to let people post rapid test results.
Dr. Fitzgerald says there is probably 2-3 times more covid than what we see on tests (based on people who who up in hospital) #covid19nfld

What about allowing people who are about to turn 5 to get their vaccine?
No says Dr. Fitzgerald says they follow Health Canada and NACI guidance #covid19nfld

If you just had omicron, should you wait for your booster?
Some evidence that you might get better protection, but it's safe for you to get it once you're recovered
The booster will improve your response, even if you've had an in infection #covid19nfld

There will be more contacts and more chance for the virus to spread as they open up so they expect to see a bump in cases and hospitalizations
But she says the measures in place also have consequences, so we need to balance them #covid19nfld

They're looking at how they'll approach testing through the rest of this wave and into the fall
They'll have to move away from daily reporting of cases, and report like flu where it's done weekly
They anticipate cases in the fall, may be combined with flu #covid19nfld

"Masks aren't gone on March 14" says the premier
When they dropped the requirement last summer people continued to wear them
Dr. Fitzgerald says masks do a good job of stopping not just COVID but flu etc so she doesn't think masks will ever be completely gone #covid19nfld

If people want to wear a mask, support them. Dr. Fitzgerald says if other people want to wear a mask, it doesn't affect you
She says we need be understanding if businesses want to continue to require them
"It's just a bit of fabric on your face"
#covid19nfld

They're still deciding about masking in schools
She encourages and parent or kid who wants to keep wearing them that they continue to be accepted #covid19nfld

More details on the deaths, all 3 are men over 80, one in Eastern, two in Central #covid19nfld