For the first time since COVID-19 was first detected in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province has confirmed community spread of the virus.
There are eleven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province today, and with three non-epidemiologically-linked clusters, Dr. Fitzgerald confirmed community spread in the metro region.
She says three clusters with no known source signals community spread in the area, the extent of which is not fully known at this time.
All of the new infections reported today are in the Eastern Health region. Five people are under 20 years of age, four cases are between 40-49, one case between 50-59, and one case is over 70 years of age.
That’s prompted Dr. Fitzgerald to announce new Special Measures Orders for the St. John’s and Mount Pearl areas effective immediately.
All groups and team sports and recreational activities, as well as group instruction and arts and cultural activities that involve in-person activities, are suspended. Those activities, says Fitzgerald, are the primary areas of risk.
The province has reported 427 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic. 82,530 people have been tested to date.
The COVID-19 update is currently underway. VOCM News will provide more information as it becomes available.