Today (Sunday, August 30), Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province has one active case. Contact tracing by public health officials is complete. All results are negative.

The department is advising the public that there was a positive test result reported yesterday.

The positive test result was from an asymptomatic patient at Eastern Health. The individual had COVID-19 in the past and had recovered.

The test was done as part of a screening protocol, not because the individual reported symptoms of COVID-19.

The individual’s close contacts are being notified and twenty Eastern Health staff are self-isolating.

Out of an abundance of caution, all close contacts will be tested.

Local unions have been notified.

The public health evidence to date indicates that this is not a new case of COVID-19.

The reason for this is that the test is quite good at detecting any viral genetic material that may be present even if the virus is no longer capable of producing infection.

In people who have recovered from COVID-19, the presence of such material could produce a positive test result, but this does not mean there is an active infection.

This means the total number of confirmed cases in the province remains at 269.

There is no one in hospital due to COVID-19.

Two hundred and sixty-five people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 31,792 people have been tested.

In Alert Level 2, individuals should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These actions include:

• Stay informed, be prepared, and follow public health advice;
• Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer in the absence of soap and water;
• Do not touch your face;
• Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette;
• Wear a non-medical mask in public indoor spaces;
• Maintain physical distancing;
• Increase cleanliness and ventilation of public spaces and worksites; and,
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with others.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit nl.tr.jit-tr.com/covid-19.

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Media contact
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca