N.L. reports 194 new COVID-19 cases as health-care disruptions felt across province

Newfoundland and Labrador reported another day ofnew COVID-19 cases in the triple-digits on Tuesday, with 194.

The majority of the cases, 154, are in located in the Eastern Health region, according to a tweet from the province's Department of Health. There are 15 cases in the Central Health region, 13 in the Labrador-Grenfell region and 12 in the Western Health region.

Tuesday's totals seta new record for cases in a single day and bringsthe province's active case count to843 with28 more recoveries reported.No one is currentlyin hospital due to COVID-19.

A total of 4,174tests were completed since Monday's update.

In a separate media release, the Department of Health issued COVID-19 exposure notices for three recent PAL flights:

• PB901,Dec.21,St. John's toDeer Lake.
• PB1925, Dec. 26, Gander toHappy Valley-Goose Bay.
• PB901, Dec.26,Happy Valley-Goose Bay toWabush.

Passengers on those flights are being asked to get tested. Anyonewho travelled on these flights andhave symptoms are required to isolate until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve and they receive a negative test result, the Health Department said.

Visitor restrictions and cancellations

On Monday, Labrador-Grenfell Health raised the alarm over a potential COVID-19 exposure during four Air Borealis flights shortly before the holiday weekend. Northern Labrador communities are testing travellers who are also self-isolating, and the Nunatsiavut Government said at least one person was found presumptive positive.

On Tuesday Labrador-Grenfell Health clamped down on visitation at all of its long-term care facilities. Only one essential support person is nowpermitted to visit a long-term care resident.

General visitation at the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay also only allows for one essential support person.

Support people should remain consistent, the health authority said, butmay be updated every two weeks.

In eastern Newfoundland, Eastern Health also ushered in restrictions for units at the Caribou Memorial Veteran's Pavilion and Agnes Pratt Home andin St. John's due to a possible exposure in theStella Burry Place unit,alongside restrictions atSaint Luke's Homes and St. Patrick's Mercy Home.

Eastern Health saidit's a temporary measure while the investigation is ongoing.

Visitor restrictions are also in place for the Southviewunitdue to an "increase in a possible influenza-like illness."

"The public is asked not to visit any health-care facility if they feel ill or are symptomatic," Eastern Health said.

For western Newfoundland, Western Health says routine bloodwork appointments are cancelled starting Wednesday until Jan. 5due to increased staffing demands throughout the organization, includingfor COVID-19 testing.

Urgent laboratory services will go ahead, the health authority said, as will appointmentsfor patients scheduled for INR, transplant blood workor chemotherapy blood work.

Patients will be called to reschedule appointments early in the new year.

"We ask patients to please refrain from calling to book or reschedule routine appointments between Dec.29 to Dec. 31 inclusive," Western Health said.

Patients should be called to reschedule their appointments by Jan. 17.

Central Health also updated restrictions for theNotre Dame Bay Memorial Health Centre in Twillingate. Residents are restricted to one essential visitor. The visitor should remain constant, according to the health authority.

Exposure notifications

Health authority officials across the province are continuingto share possible exposure notificationsTuesday. Anyone who visited following locations at the dates and times listed below should book a COVID-19 test.

Eastern Health region

• Studio Versospin class, 60 O'Leary Avenue, St. John's,Dec.20 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Bare Mountain Coffee House, 53 Memorial Drive, Clarenville,Dec. 22from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Chinched, 5 Bates Hill, St. John's, Dec. 20-22from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wing'n It, 32 Shoal Harbour Dr, Clarenville, Dec. 21 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Yellow Belly Brewery, 288 Water St, St. John's, Dec. 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Bull & Barrell, 2 Holdsworth St, St. John's, Dec. 22from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
• A New Beginning Massage Therapy, 69 Karwood Dr Unit 8, Paradise, Dec. 20 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Blue on Water, 319 Water St, St. John's, Dec. 21from 11a.m. to 5p.m.
• Kelsey's Restaurant, 300 Kenmount Rd, St. John's, Dec. 20from 1p.m. to 3p.m.
• Christian's Bar, 23 George St, St. John's, Dec. 20from 11:45 p.m to 2a.m. and Dec. 22 from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Trinity Pub, 8 Becks Cove, St. John's, Dec.22 from 9:30 p.m. to 10p.m.
• The Gypsy Tea Room, 315 Water St, St. John's, Dec. 22from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Freshwater, Dec. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Caul's Funeral Home, 1118 Torbay Rd, Torbay, Dec.19from 6:30 p.m. to 8p.m.
• Holy Trinity Church, 2 Convent Lane, Torbay, Dec. 20from 11a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Sacred Heart Church, Fox Harbour, Dec.24from 6 p.m.to 7p.m.

Western Health region

• Deer Lake Irving Big Stop, 62 Trans-Canada Hwy, Deer Lake, Dec. 21from 8a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Jungle Jim's, 41 Maple Valley Rd, Corner Brook, Dec.24, from 10:30 a.m.to 11:30 a.m.

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