Avalon Peninsula enters Alert Level 4 as rest of province eases restrictions even further

After the latestoutbreak of COVID-19 in the St. John's metro area forced the province to revert back to Alert Level 5 of its pandemic response plan a monthago, Newfoundland and Labrador is slowly reopening.

On Saturdayall regions of the province, with the exception of the Avalon Peninsula, moved forward to Alert Level 3. The Avalon Peninsula moved to Alert Level 4.

Here's a reminder of how things will look under Alert Level 4.

Public spaces and gatherings

In Alert Level 4, people must still stay in theirhousehold bubbleswhenever they are not at work or school. The bubble can expand, however, to includeimmediate family when necessary, bring in caregiversor support for isolated people.

Gatherings at funerals, burials, weddingsand religious and cultural ceremonies are expanded to 10 people, as long as physical distancing can be maintained. Wakes remain prohibited.

Informal gatherings are limited to just those in your bubble.

"Bubbles need to remain small, exclusive and local. You should only include other people if it is necessary to keep you and them safe and healthy," Fitzgerald said on Friday.

"Organizing a social gathering, such as having your extended family over for Sunday dinner, would not be acceptable."

Businesses

Child care services are expanded to full capacity.

Retail stores, including those inside shopping malls, can open at 50 per cent capacity.

Personal service establishments, such as spas, esthetic services, hair salons, body piercing andtattoo shopsand tanning salonscan open in accordance with public health guidelines.

Bars, cinemas and bingo halls remainclosed.

Restaurants remain closed for in-person dining.

Recreation

Gyms,fitness facilities, yoga studios, swimming pools, tennis and squash courtsand arenas remainclosed. Dance studios and performance spaces also remain closed.

Group and team sports are still suspended, along with groups arts and recreation.

Public health is encouraging outdoor activities, including walking, hiking, or riding abike as long as physical distancing can be maintained and you are not required to self-isolate for any reason.

Health care

Regional health authorities will allow someservices to resume.

Private health care clinics can reopen in accordance with public health guidelines.

Visitor restrictions in health care remain in place, while visitation in long-term care, personal-care homesand assisted living facilities will be expanded.

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