The Chief Medical Officer of Health says there needs to be an extended period of “slowed growth” in COVID-19 case numbers before even considering lifting any restrictions.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says there are several benchmarks and indicators that need to be used to make that determination, but it is something they are looking at.
The province has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 over the last two days, and low numbers prior.
However, Dr. Fitzgerald says the period of slow growth needs to be much longer.
She says the incubation period of the virus is up to two weeks, so they need to look at this in a longer period than just a couple of days.
Health Minister John Haggie says other jurisdictions, when exploring this idea, are using periods of a minimum of 14 days.
Some are suggesting using the criteria of no new cases, others are considering when there are low enough numbers that the healthcare system can manage, and others are considering even longer periods.
Haggie says in light of developments elsewhere, the provincial government will be better placed to make that determination. However, he claims the challenge is around the order in which things would re-open.
He says you can look at what Denmark or Germany are doing and see where they go right, and where they go wrong. The one thing that is certain, Haggie says, is that when they relax measures there will be new cases. The questions are: when and how many?
Continued Discipline and Patience Needed, says Premier
Meanwhile, the Premier understands that people are getting anxious and want to see some businesses re-opened, but says it’s important to stay the course.
Premier Dwight Ball reminded the public that the province saw its first positive case on March 14th, now there are 257 confirmed cases in just five-weeks.
(Photo via Flickr through Creative Commons.)
He says that people need continue to be patient and disciplined as we work our way through this, and out of this, in a safe way.
However, the Premier says when re-opening the economy, it is difficult to pick it region by region, or community by community.
Ball says when they are eventually in a position to think about those things, and re-open the economy, it will be done on a provincial basis.
