Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are waking up to a less restrictive province this morning.
We are now back in Alert Level 2 for the first time since early February, but how will things look this time around?
The move means each household can now have a maximum of 20 close personal contacts.
Formal gatherings are limited to 50 people, though informal gatherings outside your “steady 20” are not recommended.
Facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, performance spaces and cinemas can reopen with a maximum capacity of 50 people per room, space, or rink surface.
Restaurants and lounges can open as well at 50 per cent capacity.
Sports organizations can resume team practices, but return to play plans must be submitted to return to intra-squad competitions. Tournaments are not permitted.
As well, visitation at long term, personal care, and assisted living facilities has been expanded to six designated visitors.
Province Changing With Evolving Evidence: Fitzgerald
Meanwhile, the province’s Chief Medical Officer says how well we have been doing with our case numbers is what prompted her to change her mind about moving through the alert level system.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald had been adamant that we shouldn’t skip alert levels due to fears that reopening too fast could case another surge. However, she explains that the province has been doing very well in terms of our COVID situation.
She believes they would have been prolonging a situation that didn’t need it if the jump wasn’t made. She says they would change their thought process if the evidence pointed them in that direction, which it did.