All areas of the province are moving to a modified Alert Level 4 as of midnight tonight, as the province reports their 20th death related to COVID-19.

The woman who passed away, located in the Central region, was in her 50s.

519 new cases of COVID-19 are being reported today, with 276 in Eastern Health, 64 in Central Health, 43 in Western, 125 in Labrador-Grenfell, and 11 awaiting region confirmation.

There has been 134 new recoveries, leaving the province with 2,925 active cases. One person is in hospital with the virus.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the number of cases is overwhelming Public Health capacity for case investigation.

She says for the last two years the province has fought the virus in containment mode, but that is no longer possible, so the objective now is to slow the spread. She says the reality of the virus is that it is so infectious most people will get it at some point, however, the healthcare system cannot handle everyone getting it at the same time, leading to the move to Alert Level 4 for two weeks. The move will be reassessed on January 17.

Under Alert Level 4, households can interact with ten consistent contacts from outside the household. Informal gatherings are limited to only those ten.

Funerals, burials, weddings, religious and cultural gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people or 25 percent capacity, with physical distancing being maintained between households. Public visitation are permitted with one bubble visiting at a time and wakes are prohibited.

Gyms, fitness facilities, yoga and dance studios and arenas are permitted to open with a maximum of 50 people or 25 percent of capacity per room or ice surface. Group and team sports, arts and recreation activities are not permitted.

Retail stores including malls can open at reduced capacity, and restaurants can open at 50 percent capacity as long as physical distancing can be maintained.