High vaccine uptake should stem 4th wave in N.L., Fitzgerald says – CBC
Province has relaxed public health restrictions, but Fitzgerald still recommends caution
Aug 17, 2021
A fourth wave of COVID-19 is spreading across Canada, but Newfoundland and Labrador’s public health leader says the province’s high vaccination rate should mitigate the impact of potential outbreaks.
In recent weeks, Newfoundland and Labrador has relaxed some of the public health restrictions that many credit with the province’s relatively low case numbers.
Masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor public spaces, fully and partially vaccinated travellers have no testing or self-isolation requirements and up to 500 people are permitted at indoor gatherings.
In an interview with The St. John’s Morning Show, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health, said policies are implemented under the Public Health Protection and Promotion Act, which states the government must use the least restrictive measures possible to mitigate the spread of infection.
As of Monday, the last time the provincial government provided a caseload update, there were nine active cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
