Largely untouched by COVID-19 with only one major outbreak at the very start of the pandemic under its belt, Newfoundland and Labrador has finally been caught by the virus, which is spreading faster than ever in the provincial capital .
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On Wednesday, 53 new infections were added in one fell swoop to the province’s death toll, by far the worst number to date in Newfoundland, following the 30 cases announced Tuesday and 11 Monday. The previous record of 32 cases was dated March 25.
Complacency
In three days, the province’s death toll has risen from 419 to 510 cases, a 22% increase, thanks to an outbreak that likely started at a high school in St John. Since then, secondary schools in the capital have been closed, while containment measures such as the closure of gyms and recreation centers have been taken.
This is a significant turnaround in a province accustomed to announcing at most a few cases here and there, generally affecting travelers. The province had experienced a single outbreak, linked to a funeral home, at the very start of the pandemic, before being spared the virus.
“I believe that having had so few cases for such a long time has made us complacent and we are seeing the consequences,” lamented the province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, warning that the toll should continue to grow heavier in the coming days.
“Please continue to respect expert advice and be respectful to each other. I know it is stressful. I know that the next few days and weeks will be difficult, but we will be fine, ”added Prime Minister Andrew Furey
Earlier this year, New Brunswick experienced a similar phenomenon. The province more than doubled its number of COVID-19 cases in less than a month and added 15 more on Wednesday.
Stagnation
Meanwhile, Quebec (989 cases, 34 dead) and Ontario (1072 cases, 41 dead) saw their respective toll go up slightly. This is particularly true of the deaths west of the Ottawa River.
Critical data closely followed by decision-makers, the number of hospitalizations continued to decline in Quebec, reaching 918 beds occupied by patients with COVID-19, 22 less than the day before. However, the picture has stagnated in intensive care with 148 occupied beds (+3).
On the Ontario side, there were 39 more occupied beds (948 in total), but five fewer in intensive care (313 in total).
The western provinces, on the other hand, have shown rising tolls, particularly in Alberta (339 cases, 6 deaths) and Saskatchewan (180 cases, 2 deaths).
The only exception, Manitoba reported only 59 contaminations and six deaths.
A total of 3,178 cases and 95 deaths have added to the 813,978 contaminations and 21,004 deaths recorded to date from coast to coast.
The situation in Canada:
- Ontario: 281,566 cases (6,596 deaths)
- Quebec: 272,726 cases (10,112 deaths)
- Alberta: 127,570 cases (1,728 deaths)
- British Columbia: 71,856 (1,269 deaths)
- Manitoba: 30,417 cases (859 deaths)
- Saskatchewan: 25,843 cases (348 deaths)
- Nova Scotia: 1,588 cases (65 deaths)
- New Brunswick: 1,375 cases (21 deaths)
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 510 cases (4 deaths)
- Nunavut: 300 cases (1 death)
- Prince Edward Island: 114 cases
- Yukon: 70 cases (1 death)
- Northwest Territories: 38 cases
- Canadian returnees: 13 cases
Total: 813,978 cases (21,004 deaths)
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