N.L. to hold unplanned briefing at 1 p.m. NT to discuss schools amid growing COVID-19 outbreak

Newfoundland and Labrador officials will hold an unplanned briefing at 1 p.m. to provide an update on schools amid an ongoing spike in COVID-19 cases currently blanketing the entire province. 

In a statement to media, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said officials aren't planning to change alert levels. The province is currently under Alert Level 3, which limits household contacts to 20 people and has shuttered entertainment venues and bars.

Premier Andrew Furey, Health Minister John Haggie, Education Minister Tom Osborne and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald are slated to attend.

As of Tuesday the province had 843 active cases, with the virus reaching into smaller Labrador communities, which continue to uncover more presumptive infections.

The Nain Inuit Community Government (NICG) announced Monday night it was informed by the Nunatsiavut Government that there is one positive case of COVID-19 in the community and nine more are presumed positive. 

The NICG is urging residents to stay home and within their bubbles unless it's absolutely necessary to venture out. The government is also asking travellers to stay away from the community unless it's for essential purposes.

In its own media release, the Nunatsiavut Government said it's continuing contact tracing, and it's anticipating more presumptive positive cases will be found in the coming days, although health workers have encountered challenges getting their hands on supplies. 

In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, the Department of Health said flight delays due to weather had prohibited resupply of COVID-19 test supplies in northern communities on Monday.

Flights resumed Tuesday, but on Wednesday morning Air Borealis tweeted that flights to coastal Labrador were on hold because conditions remain poor across the region. 

The Health Department said Fitzgerald, Labrador-Grenfell Health and the Nunatsiavut Government are continuing to monitor the situation.

"We understand this is concerning for those who live in coastal Labrador communities. Please be assured, providing increased COVID-19 testing for communities in the region is a priority for government," the department said.

The Nunatsiavut Government said cases and contacts are being prioritized, along with those who are symptomatic, for testing. 

Tests carried out in other Labrador Inuit communities on Monday have all returned negative results, the government said, adding, effective immediately, all Nunatsiavut Government offices in Nain are closed to the public.

Non-essential travel to, from and between Labrador Inuit communities is also being discouraged.