Emerging COVID-19 cluster in Marystown made up of mostly students under 12, says Fitzgerald

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting 30 new cases of COVID-19, all but three of them in the province's Eastern Health region, where there is a growing cluster in the Marystown area.

Twenty-two of the new cases are people under 20 years old, said Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province's chief medical officer of health, at a surprise Friday afternoon coronavirus briefing. All are contacts of a previous case, she said.

"I wish I was here with better news on this beautiful Friday afternoon," said Fitzgerald, who noted an outbreak at Sacred Heart Academy in Marystown, on the Burin Peninsula.

"We now have 25 cases in the area, with 22 of these under the age of 12 and mostly school-aged."

On Thursday, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District suspended classes at the school. In a note to families the district said it was "due to an increase of COVID-19 cases linked to the school community."

Sacred Heart Academy has about 380 kindergarten to Grade 7 students. The NLESD said in its note that online learning will begin Monday. Fitzgerald said 21 students have been infected across all grades.

"We do not know the source of the outbreak. However, as with all outbreaks, public health officials are working diligently on the investigation and contact tracing," Fitzgerald said. 

As a result of the outbreak, Fitzgerald said several communities on the Burin Peninsula will move to Alert Level 3 at midnight. 

Alert Level 3 means further public health restrictions will be in place for the affected communities. Households can mingle with up to 10 close, consistent contacts. Official gatherings are limited to no more than 20 people. 

Watch the full Oct. 22 update:

Fitzgerald said the affected area runs from Red Harbour south to Epworth and Great Salmonier and includes Jean de Baie, Spanish Room, Rock Harbour, Marystown, Beau Bois, Fox Cove-Mortier, Burin, Lewin's Cove, Frenchman's Cove and Garnish.

The remaining three cases are in central Newfoundland. All are contacts of a previous case.

Newfoundland and Labrador also marked 14 new recoveries on Friday. There are now 62 active cases in Newfoundland and Labrador, the first time in about 2½ weeks that the province's caseload has gone up. Four people are in hospital.

Friday's media briefing comes on the same day the province's vaccine passport takes effect, requiring anyone visiting non-essential businesses or using non-essential services to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

Vaccine push

Fitzgerald said public health is advising against non-essential travel from the Burin Peninsula to other areas of the province until the full extent of the outbreak is determined. 

She said vaccination rates for the Burin Peninsula are "quite good" for those over 50 years old, but are lower in younger age groups. Only 67 per cent of people in their 20s in the area are fully vaccinated, she said.

"We need all eligible young adults across the province to get the COVID vaccine, to protect yourself, your family and those who cannot be vaccinated, such as the children under age 12," Fitzgerald said. 

"Clinics are available across the province, so please make the time to get the shot."

Fitzgerald said about 83 per cent of the eligible population on the Burin Peninsula is fully vaccinated, with about 97 per cent of people in their 70s having had two shots. About 78 per cent of people between 12 and 19 years old are fully vaccinated.

Fitzgerald said the province is looking into using rapid testing for schools, but added they have to be careful where using rapid tests for people who are asymptomatic may not give the "best bang for your buck."

"But certainly looking at how we use it in symptomatic people," she said. 

"I don't know if it would have made a difference in this case. It's still very early on in the investigation, but I do know that the initial case we did find out about it very quickly."

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