N.L. sees record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations with jump to 18

Newfoundland and Labrador now has a record number of people in hospital because of COVID-19.

The number jumped four, up to 18 on Wednesday, surpassing the record of 16 setOct. 7.

The number of people in critical care also rosefrom three to four, the Health Department said in a media release.

There were 2,449 tests completed since the last public update Tuesday, with a positivity rate of20.87 per cent.

Public Health reported 511 new cases of the virus Wednesday, but testing isrestricted to people living in high-risk areas or who are symptomatic without being deemed a close contact of a positive case, sothe number is not necessarily an accurate reflection of viralspread.

The province has also told people who haveCOVID-19 symptomsand areclose contacts of a previous case to assume they are positive for the virus and not seek testing.

Wednesday's record comes a day after another grim N.L. milestone, as January became the deadliest month for the virus in the province, with Public Health recording nine deaths since Jan. 2.

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