N.L. reports 46 new COVID-19 cases, shortens booster timeline to 22 weeks
CBC
Newfoundland and Labrador is shortening its COVID-19 vaccination booster timeline forward to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, as the province reported 46 new cases Friday, including new instances of the Omicron variant.
Most of the new cases, 31, are in the Western Health region, where cases have spiked in recent days. Twenty are connected to contacts of previous cases, while 11 are under investigation.
There are 11 cases in the Eastern Health region. Eight are related to travel, two are contacts of previous cases and one is under investigation.
There are four cases in the Central Health region, all under investigation.
With four new recoveries, there are 76 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
In an unplanned COVID-19 briefing Friday, Premier Andrew Furey said people over 18 will be eligible for a booster 22 weeks after their second vaccination, a reduction of about four weeks from the previous six-month wait.
Furey called the 22-week mark "the sweet spot" in getting the most amount of booster shoots to people. Under the changes, almost 265,000 people will now be elligble for booster shots at the end of the month.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald also announced new restrictions in place as part of the increase in cases.
Effective immediately, anyone who is fully vaccinated and deemed a close contact of a positive case will need to isolate for seven days. Fitzgerald acknowledged the change is extreme, but called it a necessary measure to limit spread of the virus.
Travel around the province for sporting events, recreation and arts events is prohibited. Teams can continue to play within their own region.
Weddings, funerals, burials and religious events will be limited to 50 per cent capacity in areas where the NL vax pass is accepted, and 25 per cent capacity in places without the need for the pass.
This is a breaking news update. A previous version of this story is below.
In a week in which COVID-19 cases have been found in 11 schools across Newfoundland, the provincial government and health officials are holding an unplanned COVID-19 briefing at 2:30 p.m. NT today.
At least five of those schools are closed on Friday due to positive COVID-19 cases in their school communities.