The provincial government is still a few days away from rolling out its plan on relaxing public health measures.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says they have been working on the plan non-stop for the last several days.
She’s firm that the plan must be done right. Health Minister John Haggie agrees, saying that it’s more important to get it done right than quickly.
Haggie says while our curve is flat, the evolution of the disease in Newfoundland and Labrador lags behind other jurisdictions.
The Minister is confident that they will have a plan ready in the very near future—possibly over the next two to four days.
Meanwhile, the Premier is asking people for a little patience as public health does prepare a plan.
Premier Dwight Ball says they’ve learned a lot of lessons so far, and the province has been very fortunate not to have outbreaks in places like long-term care homes. However, he says we could be just one misstep away.
The Premier says they will have a very good plan, one that will give the province the best opportunity to continue its path to success.
Re-opening the national economy was the main topic discussed during the Premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last Friday. Ball says it’s important that they include the federal government’s voice in all of this.
Province Working Closely with Tourism Sector
The Premier says a plan for the tourism industry will be unveiled within the next few weeks.
The tourism season is just around the corner, and some operators are questioning whether or not to open at all due to the many unknowns.
Ball says the tourism industry is one with which they have to work closely.
He says when the province gets through the health crisis they must have a good economic group of people—like the tourism industry—in place to respond to what the future of the province might look like.
Ball says tourism is critically important to the future of the province, and it attracts a favorable market that they hope to grow.
There are some federal programs in place, but the Premier recognizes that’s not enough to secure the future of the tourism product in Newfoundland and Labrador.
