N.L. schools go virtual starting Jan. 4 as province reports 312 new cases of COVID-19

COVID-19 cases continue to spike in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the province reporting 312cases another single-dayrecord.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said during Wednesday's briefing that216 of the cases are in the Eastern Health region, 49 are in theCentral Health area, 30 are in the Western Health regionand 16 in the Labrador-Grenfell Health area.

Fitzgerald said there have been 44 recoveries since Tuesday's update, leaving 1,111 active cases in the province.

"The cases we are reporting this week are the result of transmission that took place just prior to and during Christmas," she said.

"The last thing anyone wants is another lockdown, and we're trying strike a balance between reducing spread and allowing people to engage in activities for their wellbeing."

No one is in hospital at the moment due to the virus and3,018 tests have been completed since Tuesday's update.

The province's COVID-19 website will now include positive test results for those who have gotten a test. Fitzgerald said it's to expedite the process as hundreds of new cases are being reported over the last few days. Those who have tested positive will be given a letter with detailed instructions to send to individuals who were closecontacts as far back as 72 hours beforesymptoms started.

"If you see that your test is positive, self-isolate and wait for a call from public health with further instruction," she said.

Heading into New Year's Eve, health and government officials are asking the public to keep contacts low and refrain from hosting or attending large parties or gatherings.

Fitzgerald said the ongoing outbreak reaching across the entire province stems from personal gatherings, many downtown St. John's establishments and some sports teams. Sheadded it's hard to pinpoint the source of many infectionsgiven the influx of cases transmitted within the community.

Following the briefing, Eastern Health issued moreexposure notifications. Anyone who visited the following locations at the dates and times listed should book a COVID-19 test:

• Tim Hortons, 275 Kenmount Rd., St. John's,Dec.22from 1p.m. to 2p.m.
• St. John's Fish Exchange, 351 Water St., St. John's, Dec. 21from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• GoodLife Fitness, 141 Torbay Rd., St. John's,Dec.21from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Dec.22from 2p.m. to 3:30 p.m. andDec.23, 27 and 28from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• The Nook and Cannery, 69 Harvey Rd., St. John's, Dec. 20from 9:30 a.m. to 11a.m.
• Orangetheory Fitness, 70 White Rose Dr., St. John's,Dec. 22from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
• Gahan House Harbourview, 135 Harbour Dr., St. John's,Dec. 22from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• The Rec Room at the Avalon Mall, St. John's, Dec. 20from 4 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 21 from 9a.m. to 5p.m., Dec. 24from 2p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dec.27from 2p.m. to 8p.m. and Dec.28from 1p.m. to 9p.m.
• Blue On Water, 319 Water St., St. John's, Dec. 23from 3p.m. to 10p.m.

Schools going online

Meanwhile, students are just about to returnto school after the holiday break, butPremier Andrew Furey said classeswill be going virtual starting Monday, with reassessment happening every week.

"Now is the time for precaution, not for panic," Furey said.

Education Minister Tom Osborne said getting students back in class, in person, remains the priority as soon as it's safe to do so. He said an update will be provided to schools every Thursday starting Jan. 6 regarding how the following week will look.

"Some changes to our approach were required. Obviously this is a significant shift in our school communities," Osborne said.

"I know that it's not ideal and I appreciate everybody's patience. We fully anticipatethat there will be some bumps in the road in the new year. However, this is the eventuality that we prepared for in the finaltwo days before Christmas break."

Hospital unit closed to visitors

The Health Sciences Centre in St. John's has suspended visitation on5 South B, whichtypically houses neurosurgery and urology patients,as occupational health is conducting contact tracing for all employees. Contact tracing for inpatients is already completed,according to an Eastern Health media release.

In a statement to CBC News from Eastern Health, officials can't confirm if additional positive cases have been identified in the unit due to the low number involvedbut said it has not been deemed an outbreak site.

Health Minister John Haggie said "a significant number" of health-care workers are contacts of a COVID-19 infection and are being required to self-isolate. However, he said the data isincomplete because the system used to collect information is still offline from the IT outage earlier this fall.

"We have 487 health-care workers currently isolating, and that's a low estimate," he said.

"The visitor restriction is a public health measure to safeguard visitors and staff, as well as patients."

New cases in Labrador

The Nain Inuit community governmentis urging residents to stay home and within their bubbles unless it's absolutely necessary to venture out, asnew cases are cropping up in the area. The government is also asking travellers to not to come to the community unless it's for essential purposes.

In itsown media release, the Nunatsiavut government said it's continuing contact tracingandanticipates findingmore presumptive positive casesin the coming days, although health workers have encountered challenges getting their hands on supplies.

Flights resumedTuesday, but on Wednesday morning, Air Borealis tweeted that flights to coastal Labrador were on hold because conditions remain poor across the region.

The Health Department said Fitzgerald, Labrador-Grenfell Healthand the Nunatsiavut government aremonitoring the situation.

Furey said "a healthy number" of test kits are being shipped to Labrador that should meet the demand. He said he spoke withJohannes Lampe, president of the Nunatsiavut government, about the volume of tests that will be needed, and kits are already on the way.

"We are confident that we can continue to supply that level of testing that's needed," said Furey.

"Weather aside, we're confident in the supply chain and ensuring that Labrador is kept safe."

Tests carried out in other Labrador Inuit communities on Mondayhave all returned negative results, the government said, adding, effective immediately, all Nunatsiavut government offices in Nain are closed to the public.

Non-essential travel to, from and between Labrador Inuit communities is also being discouraged.

Lockdown inSheshatshiu

Officials in thecommunity of Sheshatshiuareimplementing measures of their own Wednesday, including a town lockdown beginning at 7 p.m.

As part of the changes, the town will implement security to limit travel in and out of the community. Residents are able to move in and out of Sheshatshiu,but are encouraged to limit non-essential travel. Non-residents can only enter the town if work requires them to do so.

Social community gatherings, including New Year's Eve celebrations, are cancelled. Visits between family members are allowed, but residents are asked to limit their contacts.

A booster vaccination clinic will take place Thursday in the community starting at 10 a.m. at the North West River Community Centre.

Presumptive cases inNatuashish

In Natuashish, Innu Nation Deputy Grand Chief Mary Ann Nuiissued a statement on Facebook on Monday night saying three presumptive positive cases have been found in the community.

Nui said the presumptive cases stem from the four Air Borealis flights last week that had exposure notices issued for them and from a bar at Trappers'Cabin in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Dec. 17.

"We should not panic;these are only presumptive cases," Nui wrote. "The individuals are isolating tight and respecting the community."

COVID advisories from the Health Departmentwill be issued on Thursday and Friday, aspokesperson said. From Sunday to Tuesday, updateswill be provided through the department's Twitter account.Advisorieswill then be issued daily.

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