With 11 new circumstances of COVID-19 and three unlinked clusters to deal with, Newfoundland and Labrador’s chief medical officer of well being is curbing all group and teenage sports activities and humanities occasions within the St. John’s metro space and limiting guidelines for care properties.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald made the announcement Monday at a particular COVID-19 briefing attended by Premier Andrew Furey and Well being Minister John Haggie.

Furey and Haggie are in the course of a provincial election marketing campaign and haven’t attended a briefing because the writ was dropped in January.

The sports activities restrictions apply to all actions the place shut contact is required, equivalent to workforce sports activities, however doesn’t embody personal instruction or particular person train or sports activities.

All band, choir, dance and music courses and performances should additionally cease, however solo performances and personal classes are nonetheless OK.

“We’ll proceed to judge the scenario over the following 48 hours and can decide whether or not further restrictions are warranted,” Fitzgerald informed reporters.

Monday’s briefing got here after a flurry of stories over the weekend that included the Newfoundland and Labrador English College District saying the indefinite closure of Mount Pearl Senior Excessive after two college students examined optimistic.

Fitzgerald confirmed that “a number of” of the circumstances she reported are linked with the college. Of the 11 circumstances, 5 are folks below the age of 19.

There are actually 27 energetic circumstances within the province.

On Monday morning, the RCMP reported an worker at its St. John’s headquarters has examined optimistic and that the constructing can be closed to the general public for the day.

A spokesperson later confirmed that about six different workers had been additionally quarantining as a precaution, however that there was no direct publicity to members of the general public.

In response to the scenario, Mount Pearl introduced it’s closing all leisure services for the remainder of the week, with an replace approaching Friday.

“That is an unsure time, and our function as a municipality is to comply with the rules offered by Public Well being and take all precautions essential to gradual the unfold of this virus,” Mayor Dave Aker mentioned in a information launch. “We’re a small neighborhood and we acknowledge the interconnectedness of our metropolis and we have to play our half in defending everybody’s security.”

Care dwelling restrictions

Fitzgerald additionally renewed restrictions on private and non-private long-term and private care properties within the province.

Solely two designated guests might be allowed per resident, and all group and outdoors actions are curtailed.

As nicely, employees are now not allowed to work in a couple of facility once more, a restriction that was lifted final fall when case counts had been low. Exceptions might be thought-about the place direct resident care could also be adversely affected.

Fitzgerald mentioned all residents of long-term care properties prepared to get the COVID-19 vaccine have acquired the primary dose.

“Neighborhood unfold is what we’ve got tried to keep away from for therefore lengthy nevertheless it doesn’t should be our destiny,” she mentioned. “We now have it in our energy to convey this again below management, however we will solely accomplish that if we learn about all the circumstances of COVID inside our province, and that’s solely attainable if folks come ahead for testing.”

She mentioned there are actually three unlinked clusters within the area. That features one reported greater than per week in the past that included 5 folks.

Fitzgerald mentioned the investigation remains to be very preliminary on among the newer circumstances.

Up to now, greater than 1,000 folks have been examined in relation to the circumstances within the area.

Haggie mentioned there isn’t a concern with testing capability, and Fitzgerald mentioned Japanese Well being employees have to this point been in a position to sustain with the demand.

She mentioned there’s a contingency plan to usher in extra contact tracers if required.

Restaurant replace

In the meantime, Public Well being has downgraded its alert with reference to The Bigs restaurant in Mount Pearl, however nonetheless asks that anybody who dined or labored on the institution from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4 to name 811 for testing, or go browsing at https://covidassessment.nlchi.nl.ca/ to do a self-assessment. Solely those that have or had signs of COVID-19 are anticipated to self-quarantine whereas awaiting outcomes.

Memorial College introduced it’s reviewing the data offered by Public Well being and can concern an replace later Monday.