Newfoundland and Labrador is well-prepared in terms of ventilator access should hospitalizations increase due to the surge of cases in the metro region.

As of yesterday, two people have been admitted to hospital with the virus.

Health Minister Dr. John Haggie broke down the numbers at yesterday’s COVID-19 briefing. He says during the first wave we had 60 ventilators over the number of beds in intensive care. They recently ordered an additional 84, most of which have arrived.

In addition to that, we have a surge capacity of an additional 50 ventilators from the national emergency stockpile.

He says we are more likely to run out of staff to run the ventilators than to run out of ventilators themselves.