N.L. moves to Alert Level 3 with no new cases of COVID-19

Newfoundland and Labrador reached a new milestone on Monday, moving to Alert Level 3 of its reopening plan, which allows more freedom, travelling throughout the province and the first wave of retail stores coming back online since March.

But just one day into the new level, questions are already being raised about the province's move to Level 2.

It took 28 days to move from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3.Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province's chief medical officer of health, said the next move certainly will not be faster than two weeks, but likely closer to three weeks if the move is made earlier at all.

Fitzgerald said that's because of the incubation period of the virus, which is 14 days, and said the provincial government will need time to analyze the changes made to relaxedpublic health measures under Level 3.

She said some of the concerns would be unidentifiable sources for the infection i.e. not travel-related, or not related to a close contact with a traveller more hospitalizations and an increase in positive tests.

"There's a lot of things that we would be considering, and no one thing in particular will necessarily make that decision for us," said Fitzgerald.

Watch the full June 8 update:

Premier Dwight Ballreiterated the importance of discipline and maintaining public health measures to ensure there is no further spread of the highly contagious virus.

"We encourage you to take every precaution," Ball said. "Precautions like washing your hands, wearing a mask and physical distancing, as it will be part of our new daily routine. We cannot wait this out. We must adapt our lives to it."

The province saw no new community spread cases in the duration of Alert Level 4. The only new casewas related to travel.

In light of that, Fitzgerald was asked if the province could open up completely, while maintaing border control, as seen in New Zealand. She said while the prevalence is low, there are still people coming into our province going to work, and returning from work outside the province.

"All the evidence right now would point to the fact that the prevalence in our province is low, but we cannot confirm that it is zero," Fitzgerald said. "So to put that train of thinking out there is potentially worrisome."

No new cases Monday

The province also reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday for an 11th consecutive day.

The province's caseload stands at 261, with three deaths and 256 people having recovered. There are two active cases. One person is in hospital.

As of Monday's update, 13,449 people have been tested for COVID-19, with114 over the past day.

Fitzgerald said the province did well through Alert Level 4,but adhering to government health measures and proper hygiene is still the top priority.

"This is a huge step forward and only made possible through our dedicated collaborative actions, tenacity and diligence," said Fitzgerald.

"As with the previous levels of our plan, public health officials will be continuously monitoring our situation, and as things evolve so will we. Our success in Alert Level 3 will depend on each of us."

During a priorupdate, Health Minister John Haggie said the move is closer to what will become the new normal, at least until a vaccine becomes widely available.

Monday also marked Day 92 since the province declared apublic health emergency.

Also on Monday,Haggie saidCanadian Blood Services is looking for peopleyounger than 67who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been fullyrecovered for at least 28 daysto become donors.

"When a person is infected with a virus, their body starts making antibodies to fight it. It is believed these antibodies could be the key ingredient for a treatment to help others with the same virus," says the Canadian Blood Services web site.

Travel from the U.S.

The federal government issued a plan to allow a limited travel exemptionon Monday, for family members in the United States who are separatedby the pandemic. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the plan isto allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to come to Canada, calling it an "an incredibly difficult time to be apart from a spouse, a child, or mom or dad."

Anyone entering the country mustself-isolate for 14 days.

Ball said family members in the U.S.who are planning to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador must also adhereto the province's public health measures. This includes applying for the province's travel exemption in advance, and that should take place before anyone books travel.

When asked Monday why family members from the U.S. can come to this province while seasonal residents those whoownpropertyin the province, but live elsewhere permanently are still not allowed to make the trip, Ball said there are still concerns about travel-related spread of COVID-19.

"We've done a good job in Newfoundland and Labrador. People have been very compliant, and so they are still concerned," said Ball.

Noting that U.S. relatives "have notseen family members for months now," Ball laid the differencein policy at the feet of another government.

"The federal decision to open up the borders to allow families to be reunited was a federal decision."

Ferry services for Labrador

Meanwhile, Ball said Monday that ferry services for Labrador's north coast will resume June 14. The Kamutik W will begin accepting freight for delivery beginning Monday.

Passenger capacity has been set at 53 people to abide by physical distancing measures.

"They're setting aside a number of spaces for each community, which is good news for the residents along the north coast of Labrador, keeping in mind those are fewer numbers than last year per trip than last year simply because of the guidelines that have been put in place," Ball said.

"Thatwill be the earliest that we've seen passenger and freight service to the north coast, and it's three weeks ahead of last year."

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