Active COVID-19 cases in N.L. drop to 5 as province reports no new cases

Newfoundland and Labrador reported 21 new COVID-19 recoveries on Saturday, along with no new cases for the fourth time this week.

The new recoveries dropped the province's active caseload to five, all in the Eastern Health region. The last time the province's active case count wasthis low was Jan. 27.

All of Saturday's recoveries are also in the Eastern Health region.

One person is in hospital due to the virus.

To date, 121,771people have been tested. That's an additional 222since Friday's update.

This week saw another step forward in the province's vaccination plan, as first responders rolled up their sleeves to receive their first shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said during Friday's COVID-19 briefing that the arrival of the province's shipment of theAstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine means first responders can receive their shots sooner than anticipated.

Additional priority groups will includeborder services staff, search and rescue teams, sheriffs' officers, corrections officers and other enforcement groups.

As of Wednesday, more than48,000 doses had been administered across the province, as the first phase of the vaccine rollout plan winds down and Phase 2 ramps up.

Labrador-Grenfell Health will start vaccinations for first responders on Monday.

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