Public health officials are broadening their testing criteria to capture more possible cases of COVID-19 in the community that may not be known.
The province is reporting four new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Two are in the Eastern Health region and two are in the Central Health region.
That brings to 236 the total number of cases in Newfoundland and Labrador; including 221 in the Eastern Health region, eight in Central Health, one in Western Health and six in the Labrador-Grenfell Health region.
Six people are in the hospital, two of whom are in ICU. 96 people have recovered and two people have died.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says they understand that there are cases in the community they don’t know about, so they’re broadening their testing criteria.
She knows there are many people with symptoms so mild, they may not be seeking medical attention. They’re broadening their criteria to identify those people and their close contacts.
Dr. Fitzgerald says if you do go out and about, she recommends a proper-fitted homemade mask.
No vaccine or drug, just our own actions to fight COVID-19.@VOCMNEWS #covid19nfld
— Ben Murphy (@VOCMBen) April 9, 2020
The province’s daily COVID-19 update will be taking a hiatus over the long Easter holiday weekend. Premier Dwight Ball says it’s to allow all those involved a short break.
The daily numbers will be sent out in a government release on the COVID website for those three days.
The daily provincial update will resume and be broadcast live on VOCM on Monday.
