N.L. reports 5 new COVID-19 cases, 5 new recoveries
3 new cases in Eastern Health region, 2 in Labrador-Grenfell Health
Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting five new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, along with five new recoveries.
Four of the five cases are travel-related, while the source of the fifth s under investigation. Three of the cases are in the Eastern Health region, while two are in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region.
The first case in the Eastern Health region is a man between 20 and 39 and is related to international travel. A man also between 20 and 39 tested positive for the virus, with the source related to travel within Canada, while the source of infection for a man in the same age group is under investigation.
The two cases reported in the Labrador-Grenfell region are a woman from 20 to 39 and a woman in her 60s, both related to travel within Canada. The cases are the first reported in the region since March 2.
Contact tracing is underway for all the new cases, according to public health.
As a result of Saturday's cases, public health has issued a travel advisory asking passengers who travelled on Ar Canada Flight 8016 from Montreal to St. John's on Thursday to arrange a COVID-19 test.
Three people are in hospital due to COVID-19. With the five reported recoveries on Saturday, the province's active case count remains 33.
The source of a case reported April 23 in the Western Health region is still under investigation, according to public health.
In all, 133,377 people have been tested for COVID-19 in the province, including 264 in the past 24 hours.
Positive case on ship in Conception Bay
In its release, public health also said the province is working closely with Eastern Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada after a crew member on a ship anchored in Conception Bay was confirmed to have COVID-19.
Public health said the crew member is the only person confirmed to have the virus at this time and that all crew members have been tested on board.
The ship, the Federal Montreal, is owned by Montreal-based company Fednav, which runs a bulk shipping service between northern Europe and the Great Lakes.
Fednav told CBC News that tests were being done aboard the ship and all government regulations are being followed.
The Public Health Agency of Canada told CBC News in an email Saturday that it was notified of an ill crew member on the ship Thursday, who was then transported to hospital by medevac.
PHAC said the ship will remain anchored in Conception Bay while it works with provincial authorities "to assess the situation in the context of local public health requirements and the requirements of the Quarantine Act to determine next steps."
Public health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador also advised rotational workers of an outbreak at the Oilsands Industrial Lodge in Alberta on Saturday, as there are workers from the province on site.
Any rotational workers who returned from the site in the last two weeks must complete a full 14-day isolation period, regardless of a COVID-19 test result.
N.L. nears 170,000 people vaccinated
As of Friday, 167,714 people had received at least one dose of a vaccine, about 36 per cent of those eligible.
As of end of day Friday 167714 people have their first dose (36%). Over 82% of doeses delivered have been administered. <br><br>We have 82.4% of those over 80y; 90.9-% of people between 75-79y; and 85.3% of 70-74y with first or second doses! <br><br>Hats off to Public Health!
—@JohnrockdocHealth Minister John Haggie tweeted Saturday that more than 82 per cent of people in the province over the age of 80 have received at least one dose.
The province saw its highest number of new daily cases in over two months Friday, with seven of the new cases related to travel. Of the 23 COVID-19 cases found in the province this week, 21 are travel-related.
The Department of Health said the jump is not unexpected given the epidemiology elsewhere in Canada and what the department calls "increased travel into the province recently."
The department also said Friday that there is "no concern of community spread at this time."
Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported a single-day record 148 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, with more than 16,500 tests completed in the past day as the Nova Scotia Health Authority lab catches up with a testing backlog. There are now 713 active cases in Nova Scotia.
New Brunswick reported 18 new cases Saturday, with 141 active cases in the province. There were no updates from health officials on Prince Edward Island as of 3:30 p.m. NT.