N.L. reports 4 more COVID-19 deaths in final scheduled update

Four more people have died as a result of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labradoras the province prepares to lift almost all public health restrictions on Monday.

According to a media release, two of the deaths are in the Eastern Health region:a woman in her 70s and a woman in her 80s. There is also one new death in both the Central Health and Western Health regions, both men in their 50s.

The four deaths were reported on the second anniversary of the beginning of the pandemicon March 11, 2020. A total of 76 people have died as a result of COVID-19 in the province.

The province also reported 1,262 new cases of the virus since the last update on Wednesday: 680 on Thursday and 582 on Friday.

Twenty-two people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, including five in intensive care.

Along with 428 reported recoveries, there are 4,105 known active cases in the province. A total of 528,651 COVID-19 tests have been completed in Newfoundland and Labrador, including 3,926 since Wednesday,with a positivity rate of32.1 per cent.

Friday's update is the final case update that will come via media release. Officials announced Wednesday that the province will shift to a new online COVID-19 hub that will show condensed information. The portal will be updated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Although public health measures will lift on Monday, masking will remain strongly recommended, according to Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.

Maskswon't be mandatorywhile using public transit in St. John's and the surrounding area, but are recommended according to a media release from Metrobus.

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