Fewest hospitalizations in a month, with zero new cases of COVID-19 in N.L.
Reopening plan still under work
The number of people hospitalized in Newfoundland and Labrador for COVID-19 is the fewest it has been in a month, as the province marked another day with no new reported cases of the virus.
Tuesday is the ninth day in the past 11 with no cases found.
At the same time, government officials held fast to a decision to not rush a reopening plan similar to what some other provinces have already unveiled.
The province's total caseload stands at 258, with 222 having recovered from the virus. Four people are hospitalized — the lowest such number since March 28 — with two in intensive care.
As of Tuesday's daily briefing, 7,955 people have been tested — an increase of 333 since Monday's briefing.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said a "hard-earned sense of relief" was evident, after another day with no new positive cases of the highly infectious disease, which has claimed the lives of three people in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Without your unrelenting dedication and support this wave of COVID-19 would have most certainly resulted in higher rates of illness and more lives lost to this disease," Fitzgerald told the public.
"For your unwavering strength and endurance during this most challenging time I offer my sincere gratitude and appreciation."
Watch the full April 28 update:
While the first phase of COVID-19 has subsided in the Newfoundland and Labrador, the provincial government is standing its ground on maintaining current restrictions.
'When it's ready, it will be ready'
When asked when the provincial government will release a plan to begin easing restrictions, Fitzgerald said work has been underway.
"I'm sure you can tell by my tired eyes today, we have been working on this non-stop for the last several days," she said.
"It's really important that we do it right, and when we are ready we will make that announcement, and it will be soon," she said.
Health Minister John Haggie said the provincial government isn't being evasive about releasing a plan for reopening; one simply isn't ready yet. He added he's confident the province will have a plan soon, but when that will be is still to be determined.
"When it's ready, it will be ready," he said.
The health minister said about 80 people the province are actually managing the nuts and bolts of the pandemic and public health medicine at the moment. He said they constantly switch from crisis management to crisis maintenance to planning for the next phase of the virus.
"So quite frankly you've got to give people a little bit of a break at the weekend and allow them to be able to do things in a reasonable way and in a way that allows for us to to take a breath," Haggie said.
While other provinces have begun to release their phased-in plans on reopening, Haggie said Newfoundland and Labrador still lags behind other provinces in terms of the incubation period of COVID-19.
When asked on Tuesday why Newfoundland and Labrador is still operating under the assumption that it will have similar results to other provinces regarding the spread of the virus, despite flattening the curve in positive cases over the last two weeks, Haggie said it's out of an abundance of caution.
"The rush to get back from where we are now into something else is driven by perfectly valid reasons, but they are not purely health ones," said Haggie.
"Not to minimize them, but as I say from a health perspective that underpins this, the principles and the framework have to be as good as we can reasonably make them. They have to be right, not quick, and they have to be good but not necessarily perfect to the point of paralyzing it.
"We walk a balance and I think we're nearly there."
1 misstep away from an outbreak, Ball says
Premier Dwight Ball said the province has been fortunate so far in keeping the virus mostly away from long-term-care homes and personal-care homes. But he said the province is also just one misstep away from another potential outbreak.
"All we're asking for right now is a little patience," said Ball.
"When it comes we think we'll have a very good plan and one that will give us the best opportunity to continue on the path of success."
The provincial government Monday announced on Monday a plan for digital contact tracing through a voluntary cellphone app. When questioned Tuesday about the need for the measure, when the province's active cases have been dwindling, Haggie said it's out of precaution.
"All the predictions across the globe have shown that this wave is just the beginning of a pandemic that will last 18 to 24 months," he said.
"So this is a perfect time now to fix your leaky roof before it starts raining again."
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald amended a special measures order that prohibits long-term-care and personal-care workers from working at several different sites.
The order now also prohibits them from working at any other outside job while employed by one of those facilities.
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