There are two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

One case involves a woman who is over the age of 70 and is a close contact of a previous case, while the second case is in a man in his 40s who returned to the province from work in Alberta.

Public health also provided an update to yesterday’s case with unknown origin. The person is a close contact of today’s travel-related case, as they are members of the same household.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald acknowledged the grave situation unfolding in other parts of Canada as virus cases surge.

She likened the pandemic to a “tsunami,” and says travel restrictions and self-isolation alone won’t halt the spread of the illness. She urges people to be “relentless” and do their part.

That means maintaining physical distance from others and limit your contacts to your closest family and friends.

She says travel brings the virus to the province, but social gatherings, failing to self-isolate and failing to follow public health guidelines are what spread the illness.

All non-essential travel should be avoided says Fitzgerald. Nova Scotia now has confirmation of community spread in that province and she recommended anyone considering travel to that province to remain vigilant.

Dr. Fitzgerald warned that special measures orders may have to be reconsidered following complaints related to a lack space to allow social distancing in some bars, restaurants, and other public indoor spaces.

This is not the time to relax public health guidelines and the complaints are being investigated. She says if the complaints continue she will consider strengthening special measure orders now in place.