The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is clarifying the reasoning for not naming potential businesses affected by the cluster of cases in Eastern Health.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald explains that they will release information about specific locations if they feel there is a need from a public safety point of view.

She says they are trying to balance privacy with public health and safety, and the current investigation has not brought them to a point where they feel that is necessary, because they have been able to directly contact all those affected.

In determining whether or not to release such information, Fitzgerald explains there are a number of things to consider, such as was the person infectious at the time? If they were, then you have to consider things like if they were wearing a mask, how long they spent there, how close their contacts were, and what they did there. That will help determine the risk to public safety, and if they believe it is a significant risk then they make the location public.