With no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday — the 10th time in the past 12 days — the provincial government says a plan for a cautious relaxation of some public health orders is coming Thursday.

The province's caseload remains static at 258.In total, 8,220 people have been tested — 265 since Tuesday — with 225 having recovered from the virus. There are 30 active cases in the province.

"We have to find a way now to live with COVID-19 in our communities. While we will be looking in the near future to relax some of the public health measures in place, life as we knew it will not resume for some time," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald at Wednesday's briefing.

"That is not to say we can't regain some of the freedoms that we lost temporarily due to COVID-19."

Premier Dwight Ball said the province will release a plan Thursday for how to ease public health measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

Ball said the changes will be slight, evidence-based and done cautiously.

"Our plan will balance the risk of businesses with the prevention of a resurgence," he said. "We've been taking the necessary time to do this right."

Ball said the provincial government has brought in a member of the transition team he used in 2015 when he became premier to assist businesses when restrictions are lifted.

Paul Mills has 35 years' experience in economic development, said Ball.

Fitzgerald said policies have been discussed at the federal and provincial levels based on the evidence available.

"We have all agreed on the basic approach that is based on sound scientific evidence. That may look different in each province but the approach is based in the same principles," she said.

Ball said Newfoundland and Labrador's public health team will make reopening decisions on what is best for the province.

"The measures that we put in place, working with the chief medical officer here, is based on the interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," Ball said.

Fitzgerald also issued a new public health order Wednesday. Effective May 4, entry into the province is prohibited with the exception of primary residents, asymptomatic workers as outlined in a public health order last week, and anyone with an exemption from Fitzgerald's office.

"These measures are necessary to further protect the health and safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as we navigate the next phase of COVID-19," Fitzgerald said.

On Wednesday, Health Minister John Haggie clarified the provincial government's involvement in the public health emergency. Haggie said when the order is issued, authority for public health decisions falls to the province's chief medical officer of health.

"It is not any longer a decision for the elected politicians, or cabinet in that sense," he said.

Haggie used the analogy of a ship captain giving control to a harbour pilot when entering a port.

"I think, on this occasion, we have handed over the control of our vessel to our harbour pilot, and that's Dr. Fitzgerald, and I have to say she's done an excellent job in doing it," he said.

"I think it's important to state that there, because I think some people in the media or on social media have had the impression that somehow there were dark, political agendas being followed behind the scenes. I really want to assure everybody that that is not the case."

On Tuesday, Haggie said it's important that the 80 government workers managing the provincial response to the pandemic a break when possible.

Asked Wednesday if the province should hire more staff to alleviate the workload, the health minister said the province has been able to manage with a very lean core so far.

"I think, just like other jurisdictions in Canada, those staffing complements are going to be revisited over the course of the next month and probably the next years."