NL

1 new case of COVID-19 in N.L., as AstraZeneca clinics launch

The province is reporting one new case of the illness in the Eastern Health region Thursday, a day after officials announced a major spike in vaccine shipments.

People between 55 and 64 can avail of appointment slots

Hand holds a vaccine and needle.
AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccination clinics are popping up across Newfoundland and Labrador after the province received 20,000 unexpected doses. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19 on Thursday, as a large shipment of vaccines makes its way into the hands of doctors and nurses.

The new case is a woman in her 40s in the Eastern Health region, and the source of infection is under investigation, the Department of Health said in a release.

With no new recoveries reported, the province has five active cases of COVID-19, and medical workers have administered 244 tests since Wednesday. Nobody is hospitalized.

Despite announcing new daily vaccination updates this week, the Department of Health hasn't yet provided new data for how many shots were allocated on Wednesday. The department did, however, release a vaccination timeline for eligible groups across the province, showing that the general population will receive at least one dose by mid-July.

The Department of Health released a timeline on April 8 of when it expects to issue at least one dose to all eligible population groups. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)

Officials reported a mass shipment of doses in the past week: 43,780 of them, which represents more than one-third of the 129,060 vaccines that Newfoundland and Labrador has received so far.

A surprise delivery of 20,000 AstraZeneca-Oxford doses is included in that number. Authorities are now distributing those doses to the regional health authorities to offer them to anyone between 55 and 64 who wants a vaccine.

Eastern, Central and Western Health regions are offering clinics at various locations in the coming days. Appointments are required.

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