Students are moving to virtual learning January 4th and residents are being asked to scale back their New Year’s plans as COVID numbers continue to surge.
312 new confirmed cases are being reported today. 216 in the Eastern Health region, 49 in Central Health, 30 in Western Health and 16 in Labrador-Grenfell Health.
There is another case that tested positive through a private company, leaving 1111 active cases in the province.
The breakdown is:
In the Eastern Health region:
Thirty-four under 20 years of age;
One hundred and six between 20-39 years of age;
Twenty-six between 40-49 years of age;
Thirty-two between 50-59 years of age;
Thirteen between 60-69 years of age; and
Five 70 years of age and above.
There are 116 females and 100 males. All are under investigation.
In the Central Health region:
Ten under 20 years of age;
Thirteen between 20-39 years of age;
Nine between 40-49 years of age;
Six between 50-59 years of age;
Six between 60-69 years of age; and
Five 70 years of age and above.
There are twenty-five females and twenty-four males. All are under investigation.
In the Western Health region:
Four under 20 years of age;
Sixteen between 20-39 years of age;
One between 40-49 years of age;
Four between 50-59 years of age;
Two between 60-69 years of age; and
Three 70 years of age and above.
There are 15 females and 15 males. All are under investigation.
In the Labrador-Grenfell Health region:
Twelve between 20-39 years of age;
One between 40-49 years of age;
One between 50-59 years of age; and
Two between 60-69 years of age.
There are 11 females and five males. All are under investigation.
There is also one case that is the result of testing completed by a private lab outside of a Regional Health Authority:
One between 20-39 years of age.
The case is a male and is under investigation.
Monitoring for Severe Illness
Despite those numbers, there is no-one in hospital due to the virus, but Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says severe illness lags behind initial confirmation by a week or more.
Cases reported today are the result of transmission just prior to, and during Christmas. She says the province’s Alert Level will remain the same for now, but they are continuing to monitor the severity of illness and may make changes as necessary.
In the meantime, residents are being asked to seriously consider their New Year’s Eve get-together plans.
She’s asking people to keep to their contacts to their steady 20 and “you should not bring together people who are not in each other’s steady 20.
Schools to be Evaluated Weekly
(Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay)
While students will resume virtual learning on January 4th, the province will monitor whether to continue with online learning on a week-by-week basis.
Education Minister Tom Osborne says their priority is getting students back to in-person, in-class learning.
He says updates will be provided every Thursday regarding how the following week will look.
Osborne says students will not require a Chrome Book for online learning.
He says most personal computers, tablets, laptops and smart phones can be used for online learning.
Long-Term Care Restrictions
Additional restrictions are being placed on visitation on acute care and long-term care facilities, including personal and community care homes.
Health Minister John Haggie says the restrictions have been imposed due to the rapid rise of COVID cases in the community.
For the next two weeks, visitation will be limited to one, designated, essential person. That determination is made between the family and the patient’s care team.
