It's a COVID briefing
There are 17 people in hospital in NL
287 new cases
1403 tests completed
"We are seeing an increase in COVID activity"
says Dr. Janice Fitzgerald
#covid19nfld
There are 17 people in hospital in NL
287 new cases
1403 tests completed
"We are seeing an increase in COVID activity"
says Dr. Janice Fitzgerald
#covid19nfld
As of Monday formal gatherings up to 75% of capacity
Faith based also 75% (with vax pass)
Visitations limited to 75% capacity
Dance floors will be allowed, but masks must be worn
Retails stores at full capacity with no distancing
#covid19nfld
Faith based also 75% (with vax pass)
Visitations limited to 75% capacity
Dance floors will be allowed, but masks must be worn
Retails stores at full capacity with no distancing
#covid19nfld
More people will be exposed to COVID-19 as we open up
*New guidance* for close contacts as of tomorrow
Household contact fully vaccinated: If someone has COVID you can still go to work or school (along as you get tested) #covid19nfld
*New guidance* for close contacts as of tomorrow
Household contact fully vaccinated: If someone has COVID you can still go to work or school (along as you get tested) #covid19nfld
If you've had COVID in the last 3 months you don't need to get tested or isolate unless you have symptoms
asymptomatic non household context, you don't need to isolate or test, but monitor for symptoms and wear a mask outside the home.
If you have symptoms get tested
asymptomatic non household context, you don't need to isolate or test, but monitor for symptoms and wear a mask outside the home.
If you have symptoms get tested
There is a new flowchart being posted (I'll share it later), which will walk you through the new rules #covid19nfld
As the travel restrictions are listed we know people will travel says Dr. Fitzgerald.
If you need proof of an infection to travel and you don't qualify for testing, you are stuck paying for your own test she says #covid19nfld
If you need proof of an infection to travel and you don't qualify for testing, you are stuck paying for your own test she says #covid19nfld
They're changing how they report COVID
Case counts aren't as good an indicator of risk says Dr. Fitzgerald
"It's time to move out of crisis mode" she says #covid19nfld
Case counts aren't as good an indicator of risk says Dr. Fitzgerald
"It's time to move out of crisis mode" she says #covid19nfld
"There's a lot to absorb here today" says the health minister John Haggie.
He says as of Monday all provincial travel restrictions will be lifted.
He says the source of COVID is people in the province, not necessarily travellers #covid19nfld
He says as of Monday all provincial travel restrictions will be lifted.
He says the source of COVID is people in the province, not necessarily travellers #covid19nfld
No one will have to isolate, complete a travel form or isolate, doesn't matter the vaccination status.
Border screeners will be gone, no longer handing out any rapid tests
No documentation showed upon arrival
#covid19nfld
Border screeners will be gone, no longer handing out any rapid tests
No documentation showed upon arrival
#covid19nfld
Paxlovid the antiviral treatment being used has been dispensed in the province
20 treatment courses used so far (feds have given us 500), 14 in Eastern, 3 in Labrador Grenfell, 3 in Western
None have ended up in hospital #covid19nfld
20 treatment courses used so far (feds have given us 500), 14 in Eastern, 3 in Labrador Grenfell, 3 in Western
None have ended up in hospital #covid19nfld
1030 healthcare workers have had to self isolate
The changes now will mean more people can go back to work says Haggie
#covid19nfld
The changes now will mean more people can go back to work says Haggie
#covid19nfld
Can businesses continue to require proof of vaccination, masking?
She can't speak to legal issues
Dr. Fitzgerald says they'll continue to strongly recommend people wear masks after March 14
Private businesses can set their own rules says the health minister #covid19nfld
She can't speak to legal issues
Dr. Fitzgerald says they'll continue to strongly recommend people wear masks after March 14
Private businesses can set their own rules says the health minister #covid19nfld
The risk of hospitalization for children under 5 who can't get vaccinated is quite low
Children who are young who are getting admitted, it's similar to croup or bronchiolitis (sp) (which we see every winter) and they're responding to traditional therapies
Children who are young who are getting admitted, it's similar to croup or bronchiolitis (sp) (which we see every winter) and they're responding to traditional therapies
Why are we now allowing people who have household contacts who are sick (and are at high risk to have COVID) to now care for sick and vulnerable in hospital?
It's a balance says Dr. Fitzgerald. We need people to care for loved ones. She says all workers have masks and PPE
It's a balance says Dr. Fitzgerald. We need people to care for loved ones. She says all workers have masks and PPE
The goal is to keep spread at a manageable level.
She says even with increase in cases they've seen recently they think that is manageable #covid19nfld
She says even with increase in cases they've seen recently they think that is manageable #covid19nfld
John Haggie speaking to delays in air ambulances getting COVID patients to hospital. He says there is virtual care to help them in the mean time
The long term fix will be influenced by the health accords (which recommended one integrated system) #covid19nfld
The long term fix will be influenced by the health accords (which recommended one integrated system) #covid19nfld
Haggie says 221 of the healthcare workers in isolation currently, so another 800 or so could return to work as of the weekend with new loser isolation rules #covid19nfld
The daily reporting has to have a purpose
"I'm not sure that it is" right now she says
"It's here we have to deal with it...it's circulating in the community widely"
She says they report influenza every week through the flu season, says it will be much the same way #covid19nfld
"I'm not sure that it is" right now she says
"It's here we have to deal with it...it's circulating in the community widely"
She says they report influenza every week through the flu season, says it will be much the same way #covid19nfld
The health minister says the news releases won't come out on a regular basis but the data will be posted on the COVID hub instead (it's getting a redesign) #covid19nfld
Importing COVID is not a big driver of disease spread saus Dr. Fitzgerald.
That's why they won't be providing rapid tests (initially said it would be optional)
She says the logistics of keeping people at airports etc didn't warrant the benefit
That's why they won't be providing rapid tests (initially said it would be optional)
She says the logistics of keeping people at airports etc didn't warrant the benefit
After March 14 there will still be some case and contact management says Dr. Fitzgerald, which means there would likely still be some sort of rules around isolating, contact tracing etc (like we do with other communicable diseases) #covid19nfld
The health minister now says there are no constraints on the supply of rapid antigen or PCR tests, they have a good supply in case of an outbreak #covid19nfld
There will be waves of COVID that we have to deal with but they may not be as severe as the ones we've had
"It's difficult to predict" says Dr. Fitzgerald because the virus changes
That's why it's important to maintain surveillance locally and globally she says #covid19nfld
"It's difficult to predict" says Dr. Fitzgerald because the virus changes
That's why it's important to maintain surveillance locally and globally she says #covid19nfld
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