No new cases of COVID-19 in N.L. as provincial election campaign ramps up
As of Saturday, 76,130 people have been tested
Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the day after Liberal Leader Andrew Furey called a general provincial election.
The province has five active cases, as no new recoveries have been reported. A total of 383 people have recovered from the virus since the pandemic began in March.
As of Saturday's update, issued through a media release from the Department of Health, 76,130 people have been tested to date, including 157 in the last 24 hours.
One person is in hospital due to the virus.
The Department of Health is also advising rotational workers about a COVID-19 outbreak in Alberta at the Anzac Lodge, linked to the Cheecham Corridor Relocation project. The department said it was notified of the outbreak by the Public Health Agency of Canada as people from Newfoundland and Labrador work on the project.
"Rotational workers with this project who have returned to Newfoundland and Labrador in the last 14 days must self-isolate and physically distance away from household members, and call 811 to arrange testing," reads the Health Department's media release.
"These workers must now complete the full 14-day self-isolation period, regardless of test result."
'Status quo' during election
With the campaign for the Feb. 13 election underway, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald told reporters on Friday the public health response to the pandemic will remain "status quo."
Health Minister John Haggie said the Department of Health will continue to provide daily COVID-19 updates, with Fitzgerald available for a live weekly briefing, down from the recent three times a week.