COVID-19 Info Centre

Published on May 16th, 2021 @ 8:09 AM

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There are 5 new cases of COVID-19 in NL today. There are 20 active cases in the province - Dec 3

The government has instituted a 5 level plan that will see services and activities being phased back in and restrictions eased. Newfoundland & Labrador is currently at Alert Level 2.

At Alert Level 2, our focus is to control transmission while maintaining health system capacity while we allow further re-opening of social and business activities.

Your responsibility in Alert Level 2

Follow Public Health Guidance.
People can move about more. Those at higher risk of complications due to COVID-19 should stay at home as much as possible, except to get essentials like groceries and medications.
Your household bubble can interact with up to 20 close, consistent contacts from outside your household (Steady 20).
If you have COVID-19 symptoms please use the Self-Assessment and Testing Referral tool, or contact 811 when online services are not accessible.
Wear a non-medical mask when you are in public indoor settings. This includes when you are seated, except in restaurants and lounges.

Restrictions

Bubbles and Contacts:

Your household bubble can interact with up to 20 close, consistent contacts from outside your household (Steady 20).
Informal gatherings are limited to only those in your Steady 20.

Public Spaces and Gatherings:

Formal gatherings run by a recognized business or organization are limited to no more than 100 people. Physical distancing must be maintained.
Public visitations are permitted, with one household bubble visiting at a time.
Wakes are prohibited.

Recreational Activities:

Outdoor playgrounds and equipment can be used, where owner/operators allow.
Gym and fitness facilities, yoga studios, swimming pools, tennis and squash facilities, arenas, and dance studios are permitted to open, in accordance with guidelines.
Group and team sport, arts and recreation activities are permitted, in accordance with guidelines.
Performance spaces can open with a maximum capacity of 100 people. Physical distancing must be maintained.

Health Care Services:

Private health care clinics can open in accordance with guidelines.
Visitor restrictions for acute care, long term care, personal care homes, community care homes, and assisted living facilities are in accordance with the Guidelines for Support Persons/Designated Visitors.

Businesses and Services:

Child care services can operate at full capacity.
Retail stores, including those in shopping malls, can open at reduced capacity. Physical distancing must be maintained.
Personal service establishments, including spas, esthetic services, hair salons, body piercing, tattooing and tanning salons, can open in accordance with guidelines.
Restaurants can open for in-person dining at 50 per cent capacity as long as physical distancing can be maintained between patrons seated at adjacent tables. Buffets are prohibited.
Bars and lounges are permitted to open at 50 per cent capacity, in accordance with guidelines.
Cinemas are permitted to open with a maximum capacity of 100 people per room. Physical distancing must be maintained.
Bingo halls are permitted to open with a maximum capacity of 100 people. Physical distancing must be maintained.

Summary table of all alert levels

NL Vaccine Passport

Goes into effect October 22nd
The NLVaxPass app and QR codes containing an individual’s vaccination record are now available. The app is available on the Apple and Google Play stores, and the vaccination records are available at this link.
Places that WILL require vaccine passport
- Gatherings of any size that are hosted at a recognized business or organization, a rental room, community centre, or other venues used to host gatherings (e.g. weddings, funerals, birthday parties, baby showers, faith-based gatherings)
- Arenas
- Indoor gyms and fitness facilities, yoga studios, and dance studios
- Places where sports or recreational activities are practiced indoors
- Places where group music, art, dance, and drama activities are practiced indoors, including bands, choirs, dance and music classes
- Indoor entertainment facilities (arcades, trampoline parks, bowling alleys, billiard halls, golf, laser tag, indoor playgrounds, and paintball)
- Bars and lounges
- Restaurants (indoor seated dining only; does not apply to outdoor patios, take-out, delivery, or drive-thru services)
- Cinemas and performance spaces
- Bingo halls
- Personal service establishments including spas, esthetic services, hair salons, barber shops, body piercing, tattooing and tanning salons
- Car dealerships
- Long-term care homes, personal care homes, assisted living facilities, community care homes (visitors and staff only; does not apply to residents living in these settings)
Places that WILL NOT require vaccine passport
- School-based activities that take place during day
- Before and after school programs
- Child care
- Post-secondary institutions
- Retail stores, shopping malls, and public markets
- Health care facilities, including private health clinics
- Community agencies offering essential services (e.g. Family Resource Centres, shelters)
- Taxis and public transit
- Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations
- Places where government and other public services are offered (e.g. public libraries, Service NL)
- Financial institutions
All individuals ages 12 years and older are required to show identification with their proof of vaccination. This must include their name and date of birth. For people ages 19 years and older, the identification must include a photo.
- Your name on your identification must match the name on your proof of vaccination. If it does not, the business or organization may request a second piece of identification.
Vaccination record from place of origin (other province, territory, or country) may be used in place of an NL vaccination record for those who did not receive vaccinations in the province or do not have a valid MCP card.
- Your proof of vaccination must clearly indicate that you are fully vaccinated (14 days since your last dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine). You must also show identification

Together. Again. Reopening Newfoundland and Labrador

View the Together Again Plan
Together Again Summary Table

Throughout the Together Again Plan, we must continue to:

Wear a non-medical mask in indoor public spaces;*
Maintain physical distancing from others;
Isolate away from others and get tested if we develop COVID-19 symptoms; and
Get vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, once available to you.

CURRENT – Step 2 (as of August 1st)

The criteria for Step 2 are:

About 80 per cent of people ages 12 years and older are vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; AND
About 50 per cent of people ages 12 years and older are vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine; AND
Low COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations.

Travel

Fully and partially vaccinated Canadians have no testing or self-isolation requirements.
Unvaccinated Canadians are tested on day 7, 8 or 9, and self-isolate until receipt of a negative test result.
Mixed groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated adult travellers follow the rules for unvaccinated travellers.
Vaccinated adults travelling with unvaccinated children under the age of 12 years follow the rules applicable to the adults’ vaccination status.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians returning home from out-of-province travel will be required to follow the rules above according to their vaccination status.

Rotational Workers and Essential Workers

Fully and partially vaccinated rotational workers coming from non-outbreak sites follow the rules above for Canadian travellers.
Fully and partially vaccinated rotational workers coming from outbreak sites are tested upon arrival and are not required to self-isolate.
Fully and partially vaccinated essential workers follow the rules above for Canadian travellers.
Unvaccinated workers follow current testing and isolation protocols.

Formal Gatherings

Outdoor gatherings up to 500 people with physical distancing.
Indoor gatherings up to 350 people as long as physical distancing can be maintained.
Larger indoor and outdoor venues can have separated cohorts with physical distancing.
Funeral home visitation up to 50 people at a time.

Personal Gatherings

Limited to the number of people that can fit in the space with physical distancing.

Businesses

No capacity restrictions at restaurants and lounges, with physical distancing maintained between patrons seated at adjacent tables. Self-serve buffets are prohibited.
Dance floors permitted.

Recreational Activities

Indoor and outdoor sports tournaments permitted with appropriate COVID-19 protocols in place.
Recreational and arts facilities follow the limits for formal gatherings.
Cohorting continues at child care centres, after school programs and day camps; large group outdoor activities are permitted.

Offices and Workplaces

Continued return to work.
Larger meetings and conferences can happen.

Download the COVID Alert app now

COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are available to any individual at least 12 years of age (individual must be 12 at time of vaccination). Individuals 12-17 may only receive the Pfizer vaccine, as well as a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11. A note for rotational workers, truck drivers and flight crew:

If you are self-isolating at the time of your appointment, please only book in a self-isolation clinic.
If you are not self-isolating at the time of your appointment, you can book in any clinic as appropriate.
If you are doing modified self-isolation and your day 7-9 test result is negative, you can book in any clinic as appropriate.

Eastern Health Ages 12+: Book online | 1-833-951-3884

Western Health Ages 12+: Book online | 1-833-703-5470

Central Health Ages 12+: Book online | 1-833-961-3749

Labrador-Grenfell Health Ages 12+: Book online | 1-833-960-3643

Physical (or social) distancing means limiting your physical contact with other people in order to stop, slow down or contain the spread of COVID-19. Everyone has a part to play in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
You should try to stay home as much as possible.
If you do have to leave home for essentials such as groceries or medications, avoid crowds and maintain a distance of 2 arm lengths from other people. Try to go during off-peak hours.
Physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing. There are lots of ways to stay connected with your family and friends, such as Facetime or Skype, telephone calls, and social media.
For more information, visit the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador’s COVID-19 page

Public Health Guidance for All Alert Levels

The following measures will continue to be a part of our daily lives at every Alert Level:

Staying informed and being prepared to follow public health advice.
Practicing good hygiene (wash your hands, avoid touching your face, cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue).
Maintaining a physical distance of at least 2 arm lengths. Use a non-medical or cloth mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.
Staying at home and away from others when you are sick, unless it is to get medical attention.
Wearing a non-medical or cloth mask if you have symptoms when going out to access health care services.
Working from home, where possible.
Continuing to shop online and using curbside pickup, where possible.
Limiting non-essential travel in and outside of the province.
Keeping a log of when you go out in public and your interactions with others.

Remember: People, Place, Time, and Space

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place. People should always consider these four important reminders. They are especially important with the holidays approaching.

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.

Stephen: 5 new cases of COVID-19 in NL today

-Advertisement- Today (Friday, December 3), Newfoundland and Labrador has five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines. In the Eastern Health region: One between 40-49 years of age. […]

COVID-19 Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of COVID-19 are defined as having two or more of the following (new or worsening):

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.

The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe. Current information suggests that most cases are not severe nor do they require hospitalization.

If you start to have symptoms of COVID-19:

Stay at home and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment tool. If you cannot access the self-assessment tool, please contact 811.
Do not visit your family physician’s office and, unless it is a medical emergency, please do not go to your Emergency Department.
If you are self-isolating, you will need to continue self-isolation until Public Health advises otherwise.
If you were not self-isolating, you will be put in self-isolation and COVID-19 testing will be arranged through Public Health.

Use the Symptom Tracker daily to help slow the spread of COVID-19, even if you feel well.

Official Resources

Official Government of NL Information Page
Official Government of Canada Information Page
NTV News COVID-19 Info Centre
Metrobus
MUN COVID-19 Info Hub
CNA COVID-19 Updates
NLESD COVID-19 Info Page for Students & Families
BridgeTheGapp.ca mental health resources
HealthCanada’s COVID-19 Updates
CTV News Coronavirus News
APNL Psychological Coping Tips
Canada Red Cross help line for those in isolation – 1-800-863-6582
Dedicated text line for deaf or hard of hearing who can’t speak to a nurse – 709-216-8188
Travel form for entering NL – all travelers must fill out
NL policy – mandatory vaccinations for public sector workers

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