New COVID-19 cases drop to 4, but far too early to be optimistic, N.L. says

There are fournew cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador in the last 24 hours, marking the lowest number recorded in more than a week.

But health officials say no one can be complacent about a declining rate of growth in cases, warning that months of fighting the highly infectious disease are ahead.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday afternoon all four new cases are in the Eastern Health region of the province, which now has a total caseload of 152.

Watch the full March 31 update:

Fitzgerald said 143 cases are in the Eastern Health region of the province,threeare inCentral Health, oneis in Western Health and five are in Labrador-Grenfell.

She said2,575 samples have been tested, with 2,423 returning negative for the virus.

As of Tuesday, 120 cases are related to Caul'sFuneral Home 79 per cent of the provincial total.

"I must stress that just because the number of confirmed cases being reported today is lower than they have been in recent days, this does not mean that you can ignore the emergency public health orders currently in place," Fitzgerald said Tuesday during the province's daily update.

"The COVID-19 virus is in our communities and we are still at the beginning of this pandemic."

Eleven people arein hospital as a result of the virus, with two in intensive-care units. Seven haverecovered from the virus, Fitzgerald said. Health Minister John Haggie said, of those who have recovered, five are in the Eastern Health Region and two arein Labrador-Grenfell Health. Haggie said those numberscould be completelydifferent by Wednesday.

In a new measure Tuesday, Fitzgerald ordered the closure of campsites at municipal and privately owned parks. And she clarified a new measure announced Monday that prohibited the sale of lottery tickets;Fitzgerald said the measure applies to scratch tickets and break-open tickets. Lotto Max and 6/49 tickets can still be purchased.

Premier Dwight Ball said anyone whoseMCP coverage expired in March or will expire in April will have it extended to June 30, including international students and workers whose study and work in N.L. have been extended, as well as people having difficulty getting documentation for post-secondary institutions or employers.

Caul'scluster

Wednesday will mark the final day anyone who was affected by the initial Caul's Funeral Home cluster of COVID-19 cases will be in self-isolation.

Fitzgerald said anyone who still has symptomsor are being tracked by public health officials are to remain in isolation until given the all-clear.

Haggie said today's low number of new cases doesn't meanthe province is out of the woods.

"We are in generallagging about two weeks behind the rest of mainland Canada. If you want to know the potential for what could come here, look no further thanOntario and Quebec today and see the challenges that they face," he said.

"It is crucial that Dr. Fitzgerald's orders are followed and respected. These are simply some of the most restrictive changes to everyday life in this province since wartime in Europe. And that is no exaggeration."

Work being done

Fitzgerald said theprovince can't simply shut down completely for two weeks to contain and end COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"That's why we don't do it. What we know about this virus is two weeks is the incubation period for one person being exposed to that virus. It's not the incubation for a full population," she said.

"The evidence has been clear that two weeks of shutting everything downhas not been effective. This is going to be prolonged. It's going to take several months."

Haggie said dealing with the virus is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.

"This is not three days, it's not two weeks, it's at least three months. And we're only at the beginning of week three," he said.

Overflow work has begun in the health regions across the province to clear up hospital beds necessary for those with COVID-19 needing emergencycare.

Memorial University's Field House facility in St. John's will act as overflow for non-COVID-19 patients if needed, and Haggie said Western Health is considering using its new long-term care facility to do the same. Haggie said he doesn't have specifics for Central Health and Labrador-Grenfell Health yet.

The province has also made a push for virtual care in the last week, where patients needing appointments with physicians can do so over the phone orby video conference. Haggie said391 practitioners across the provincehave requested virtual-care access, and the province is looking at ways to make the servicewidely accessible.

Ball said the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation has produced about 9,000 litres of hand sanitizer, and is currently shipping it to health authorities across the province, at no charge.

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