Government has put strict new travel restrictions in place following reports of groups of tourists recently arriving in the province.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says starting Monday, May 4, all travel to Newfoundland and Labrador is strictly prohibited except in certain cases.

Those exceptions include those whose primary place of residence is in Newfoundland and Labrador, asymptomatic workers who are subject to an updated exemption order, and those who have been allowed in under extenuating circumstances as approved in advance by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Bonavista Mayor John Norman this week confirmed that visitors from outside the province have been seen in and around his town as tourists.

He says they have no official confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region, and they wish to keep it that way. For now, Bonavista is closed to tourism.

The visitors—who appear to be staying at non-registered accommodations—are coming from places like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and the United States.

Norman says he even saw a review posted to an Airbnb site with comments from recent visitors to Bonavista outlining their stay.

Dr. Fitzgerald is also directing Assisted Living facilities to come up with plans for the protection of residents.